Why "Gotcha!" is not an effective advocacy strategy.

Don't IEP Alone.

Don't IEP Alone.
Why "Gotcha!" is not an effective advocacy strategy.
Feb 13, 2026
Lisa Lightner

You can be right.

You can even prove you’re right.

That doesn’t mean you’ll get what your child needs.

Read instead of listen: Why “Gotcha” Doesn’t Win IEP Meetings.

related content: Is My Child Receiving FAPE? What It Actually Looks Like in Real Life.

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Don't IEP Alone with Lisa Lightner, Special Education Advocate

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Episode Artwork Why "Gotcha!" is not an effective advocacy strategy. 12:18 Episode Artwork What's the Most Imporant Part of the IEP? 6:44 Episode Artwork Avoiding the February IEP Freakout: Proactive Tips for Parents 14:48 Episode Artwork Navigating Family Boundaries: Grief, Politics, and Advocacy 29:27 Episode Artwork New Year, Fresh IEP Data: How to Track Progress and Advocate Effectively 14:48 Episode Artwork They Used a REED to Skip Testing? Yeah, Let’s Talk About That… 10:20 Episode Artwork They Don’t Have to Train You...Unless You Ask. 🙄 9:20 Episode Artwork The School Suspended Your Child. Now What? 12:55 Episode Artwork What am I doing differently as an advocate right now? Lemme tell you... 22:59 Episode Artwork 12 Tips for Special Education Parent-Teacher Conferences 39:31 Episode Artwork As Jerry Springer would say-- take care of yourselves, and each other. 15:38 Episode Artwork ADHD Month means Executive Functioning Chats 13:23 Episode Artwork OSEP and OSERS Staff Elimination 20:51 Episode Artwork Buzzword: Trust Recession 19:44 Episode Artwork What is Explicit Instruction? 12:26 Episode Artwork Is This Podcast Working? Reflections on Content, Format, and Listener Feedback 16:37 Episode Artwork Most important part of an IEP. 6:51 Episode Artwork Have you been asked to come pick up your child at school? 8:10 Episode Artwork Can you show me where it says..... 5:42 Episode Artwork Good news, bad news. 10:32 Episode Artwork Don’t IEP Alone: Essential Advocacy Tips for Today’s Unstable Education Landscape 14:23 Episode Artwork Good News and Bad News: Navigating What to Request at Your IEP Meeting 10:14 Episode Artwork Sustained Advocacy: The Real Secret Behind IEP Progress 10:10 Episode Artwork From Phone Calls to Handwritten Letters: Tips to Make Legislators Listen on Issues 9:59 Episode Artwork Reviving Parent Groups: The Old and New of Special Ed Advocacy 14:24