A strong IEP doesn't begin at the first meeting. It begins before the first day of school.
Wednesday, August 19, 2026 | 7:00–8:00 PM ET
Live virtual workshop via Zoom through The Special Needs Mama Bear® Den membership community
Your child begins experiencing the new school year before the very first day. Decisions are already being made, information is being shared, and plans are being put in place that can affect how well the school team understands and supports your child.
Yet many important IEP conversations do not begin until weeks into the school year or after a problem arises. By then, your child may have already lost valuable learning time. If additional services, supports, or resources are needed, it can take even longer before they are approved and put into place.
But what if you did not have to wait?
A strong IEP does not begin at the first meeting. It begins with what you review, communicate, and put into motion before school starts and during those critical opening weeks.
Join Christine Staple Ebanks, founder and CEO of Raising Special Needs Inc. and creator of The Special Needs Mama Bear®, for a free, practical workshop designed to help special needs mothers become active participants in preparing for their child's school year.
During this one-hour informational workshop, you will receive practical information and guided checklists to help you:
- Begin reviewing your child's current IEP in preparation for the new school year
- Recognize areas that may require closer attention or further discussion with the educational team
- Consider what the school team needs to know about your child's strengths, communication, daily support needs, and educational priorities
- Prepare important information to share with teachers, therapists, transportation providers, and other members of the educational team
- Begin informed conversations with the school about any questions or concerns you identify
You will also receive practical back-to-school resources to help you organize and communicate important information, prepare for the first day, and monitor your child's experience during the opening weeks of school.
The workshop will include time for participants' questions and practical insights from resource people in special education and speech-language pathology.
Your child cannot afford to lose the first weeks of school waiting for the right conversations to begin. Start planning before the first day, not after the first problem.
Your Workshop Host and Facilitators
Christine Staple Ebanks — Workshop Host and Facilitator
Christine is a mom of four children, including Nathan, who has cerebral palsy. She is the founder and CEO of Raising Special Needs Inc. and the creator of The Special Needs Mama Bear®. She is also an author, parent educator, and human services practitioner.
For more than 20 years, Christine has navigated educational, healthcare, therapeutic, and community systems alongside her son. Drawing on that lived experience and her professional background in human services, she has spent more than 19 years developing parent education curricula and delivering training workshops that equip parents of children with disabilities with the knowledge, tools, and confidence to make informed decisions and advocate for their children. Her work has reached families in the United States, Jamaica, and other countries.
During this workshop, Christine will share what parents can do before school begins to prepare for their child, organize and communicate important information, and begin identifying areas of their child's current IEP that may require closer attention or further discussion with the educational team.
Jordanne W. S. Ebanks, CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist and Special Educator
Jordanne Ebanks is a speech-language pathologist who holds the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Speech-Language Pathology (CCC-SLP). She is also certified in elementary special education. Her experience includes supporting children in public and specialized school settings and clinical settings. Collaborating with occupational therapists, physical therapists, educators, families, and other professionals to address students' communication, educational, and developmental needs.
She has experience helping students develop their speech and language skills and supporting children who use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), including speech-generating devices. Jordanne also brings personal experience as the sister of a young man with cerebral palsy, giving her a valuable understanding of communication support from both a professional and family perspective.
During the workshop, Jordanne will share what mothers should consider about their child's communication needs, what the educational team needs to know, and what information should be communicated as the new school year begins.
Tara Sanchez
Special Educator, Instructional Leader, and Dyslexia and Literacy Resource
Tara Sanchez is an experienced special educator and instructional leader with more than 20 years of experience in special education, life-skills instruction, literacy education, behavior support, and school leadership. She holds a Master of Science in Special Education and is certified in Special Education EC–12, educational administration, English as a Second Language, and multiple areas of classroom instruction.
Throughout her career, Tara has served as a life-skills teacher, resource teacher, virtual special education teacher, special programs coordinator, behavior specialist, campus principal, dyslexia and reading enrichment teacher, and parent trainer. This combination of classroom and leadership experience gives her a broad understanding of students' learning and support needs and how educational programs are implemented across school settings.
During the workshop, Tara will share what mothers should consider about their child's learning needs, educational supports, and the information that should be communicated to the school team as the new school year begins.
Who Should Attend?
This workshop is designed for special needs mothers, fathers, and other caregivers who serve as their child's primary family representative—the person responsible for participating in IEP meetings, educational planning, and ongoing communication with the school team.
How to Register and Access the Workshop
This workshop will be held via Zoom through The Special Needs Mama Bear® Den membership community.
Advance registration is required, even though the workshop is free.
Important: You must use the same email address when registering for the workshop and accessing The Special Needs Mama Bear® Den. Your workshop registration and access will be connected to that email address.
Registration includes free access to the Mama Bear Den. After registering, you will receive instructions for joining the community and accessing the live Zoom workshop. Please follow the instructions and complete your Den access before the workshop begins.
Register Today
Register for your free spot today and learn how to start planning before the first day, not after the first problem.
Reserve Your Free Spot
Important Event Information
- This is a live virtual event.
- The workshop will be held via Zoom through The Special Needs Mama Bear® Den.
- Advance registration is required.
- Registration includes free access to the Mama Bear Den.
- Participants must use the same email address for workshop registration and Mama Bear Den access.
- Access instructions will be shared in the Mama Bear Den Community before the workshop.
- No physical product will be shipped.
