Episode Summary:

Parents of children with special needs often find themselves navigating complicated school systems, medical providers, evaluations, IEPs, and unfamiliar terminology. In this episode of Parent Confidence Lab, Hans and Cristina Kullberg sit down with Cambria Russell, Ph.D., Associate Executive Director at the Federation for Children with Special Needs, to talk about how parents can become confident advocates for their children while building stronger partnerships with schools and professionals.

Cambria shares her unique perspective as a former special educator, education leader, advocate, and parent of two children with disabilities. She explains why parents should recognize themselves as experts on their own children and how families can move from feeling like they are fighting against the school system to working together toward better outcomes.

The conversation also covers practical resources for families, including Parent Training and Information Centers, Parent to Parent programs, school-based parent groups, and ways to navigate a new diagnosis or suspected disability. Cambria also discusses inclusion, ableism, supporting families in everyday life, and why asking questions and listening to people with disabilities can help create more welcoming communities.

• Why parents are experts on their own children
• How to become a stronger advocate within the school system
• Ways to build a partnership with teachers, schools, and professionals
• What to do when you feel your child's needs aren't being met
• How Parent Training and Information Centers can support families
• How Parent to Parent programs connect families with lived experience
• What to do when your child is newly diagnosed or waiting for an evaluation
• How friends and family can better support parents of children with disabilities
• Why inclusion starts with asking questions and understanding individual needs
• How listening to people with disabilities can help challenge assumptions and reduce ableism

Cambria Russell, Ph.D. is the Associate Executive Director at the Federation for Children with Special Needs (FCSN). She began her career as a special educator and has worked in school leadership, teacher education, and advocacy. She is also a parent of two school-aged children.

Cambria brings together her professional experience in education and advocacy with her lived experience as a parent. Through her work at FCSN, she helps empower families, strengthen partnerships between families and professionals, and break down barriers so children and youth with disabilities can have better outcomes.

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cambria-russell-320a464/
• Federation for Children with Special Needs: https://fcsn.org/

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