At Impasse with Your School?

About this episode

This episode discusses strategies for parents to navigate impasses in IEP meetings with schools.

We’ve all hit that moment in an IEP meeting where the conversation just… stops. No agreement. No movement. Just two sides locked in place. That’s impasse — and when it happens at school, walking away isn’t really an option. In this episode, I go back to the foundations of advocacy and negotiation to talk about what to do when discussions stall and you’re stuck in that uncomfortable space between what your child needs and what the school is willing to offer. Using real-life examples, we break down practical strategies parents can use when talks feel frozen. This episode isn’t about being combative. It’s about being strategic. When school teams hold power and conversations feel circular, there are ways to reset the table without escalating conflict. In this episode, I cover: What “impasse” actually looks like in IEP negotiations Why walking away isn’t an option in education The importance of prioritizing before the meeting starts How to reframe conversations when you’re stuck in loops Using interest-based negotiation to uncover the real “why” Bringing in new voices, data, and ideas to break stalemates Practical ways to move conversations forward without burning bridges If you’ve…

People in this episode

Host: Ashley Barlow

Topics covered

• IEP negotiations
• advocacy
• conflict resolution
• education
• parenting strategies

Keywords

• impasse
• IEP
• negotiation
• advocacy
• education
• conflict
• strategies

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• IEP Meeting Intimidation: What to Do When the School Brings Extra Staff to Special Education Meetings · March 24, 2026 · 12 min
• Educating Your IEP Team: What to Do When Your IEP Team Lacks Training in Special Education Law and Practice · March 10, 2026 · 14 min
• Cherry-Picked in the IEP Meeting: How Schools Misuse Data, Test Scores, and Accommodation Compliance to Deny Support · March 3, 2026 · 19 min
• How to Handle Feeling Misunderstood at an IEP Meeting: A Simple Special Education Advocacy Strategy for Parents to Improve Communication and Collaboration · February 24, 2026 · 20 min