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Colleen Duffy Cira

@drcolleencira

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You do not have to wait three years to request a reevaluation.
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Under IDEA, parents can request a reevaluation when there’s new information or new concerns about their child’s educational needs—and a reevaluation may occur once a year unless the parent and district agree otherwise.

So when might you consider requesting one?

If there’s regression or lack of progress.
If new concerns have emerged.
If your child’s needs have changed.
Or if the data being used to develop the IEP is outdated.

Simply reviewing and updating an IEP isn’t always enough. Sometimes you need new, comprehensive assessment data to understand what is actually happening and what supports your child needs to make meaningful progress.

An effective IEP should be based on current data—not assumptions or outdated information.

Know your rights. Ask questions. And look at the data. Current data → informed decisions → a more effective IEP.

📌 IDEA: 34 C.F.R. § 300.303

Save this for your next IEP meeting. #IEP #SpecialEducation #IEPAdvocate #SpecialEducationAdvocate #parentsrights

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Most self care advice was never built for your nervous system.

@drcolleencira spent decades unlearning the productivity rules she'd been taught, and she's talking at DIVERGE about what nervous system support actually looks like for neurodivergent brains and bodies.

DIVERGE is a free virtual summit built for neurodivergent entrepreneurs with 23+ ND speakers sharing what actually works for brains like ours. No hustle, no countdown clocks, no pressure. Just honest support.

The summit is free to attend! But if you'd like to have access to the recordings after the summit and would like to access the resources each speaker contributed, you can upgrade to the VIP ticket.

To celebrate DIVERGE's first-ever summit, we're doing something fun. We're giving away 5 VIP tickets. 🎟️

Here's how to enter:

🎟️ Share this post to your feed or stories
🎟️ Tag @patrick.casale and @gjvconsulting
🎟️ Tag 5 friends in the comments below who'd love to attend

And if you haven't already, comment TICKET below or click the link in my bio to register for free. Winners announced Friday, Sept 4th

#DIVERGESummit #NeurodivergentEntrepreneur #NervousSystemRegulation #NeurodivergentSelfCare #UnlearningProductivity #SomaticHealing #ADHDwellness

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Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP) BEFORE a Functional Behavioral Assessment (FBA)? 🚩

A Behavior Intervention Plan should be based on data—not guesswork.

An FBA identifies the why behind a student’s behavior by determining its function. A BIP is then developed using those findings to teach replacement skills and reduce behaviors that interfere with learning.

If a school develops a BIP without first identifying the function of the behavior, ask:

• What data was used to determine why the behavior is occurring?
• What assessment supports the interventions in the plan?
• How were the replacement behaviors selected?

Under IDEA, when certain disciplinary removals occur, schools are specifically required to conduct an FBA (if one has not already been completed) and implement or revise a BIP. See 34 C.F.R. § 300.530(f).

Don’t be afraid to ask what the BIP is based on. The “why” matters.

Follow for more practical special education advocacy tips that help you navigate the IEP process with confidence.

⚠️ Every situation is unique. This post is for educational purposes and is not legal advice.

❤️ Save this post so you have it when you need it.
📤 Share it with another parent who may benefit.
Knowledge is power.

SAVE this post.
SHARE it with another parent.
FOLLOW @adaptiveedadvocate for special education advocacy tips. CIMMENT WITH A ❤️ for our community. LINK IN BIO
#SpecialEducation #IEE #SpecialEducationAdvocate #ParentRights
#SpecialEducation SpecialEducationAdvocate IEP BehaviorSupport FunctionalBehaviorAssessment FBA BehaviorInterventionPlan

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😄 Feeling grateful to receive my certificate for completing the training with @drcolleencira - Beyond The Trauma Lens: Seeing ADHD & Autism Clearly

Thank you!

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BOOK LAUNCH, BAYBEE!

To celebrate and to offer an accessible option, the ebook is FREE today on Amazon.com (US) … 🔗 in ye olde bio (if you have Kindle Unlimited, it’s free all the time)

You’re not alone—and you’re not imagining it.
Currently, more than one billion people globally are experiencing peri/menopause, and up to 1 in 5 of them are neurodivergent, experiencing hormonal chaos on top of executive dysfunction, sensory overwhelm, and emotional dysregulation. The Neurodivergent Hormonal Survival Toolkit was created to cut through the confusion and give you fast, actionable clarity—without spending hours Googling or getting gaslit by medical providers. This is your map through the madness, designed specifically for brains like yours and mine.

If you’re a neurodivergent AFAB person in peri/menopause, this book will help you:

➡️reduce overwhelm
➡️gain clarity around symptoms
➡️confidently advocate for yourself in healthcare interactions
➡️feel measurably more in control of your day-to-day life

You’ll shift from feeling overwhelmed, misunderstood, and frustrated to feeling empowered, prepared, and validated, with actionable strategies and tools.

The overlap between menopause symptoms and neurodivergent traits creates confusion and heightens distress, but all of this is amplified if you’re being excluded from the conversations and funded studies.

Menopause is not a gendered issue. It’s a global healthcare crisis that affects everyone, and inclusivity matters.

Inclusivity is not a footnote here; it is the foundation. This book is for anyone who finds themselves at the crossroads of hormones + neurodivergence—AFAB, cis, trans, nonbinary folks, partners, clinicians, and all who care for or about someone in this tangled intersection. Gender, race, class, diagnosis, and culture shape our experiences, and no two ND peri/menopausal odysseys look the same.

Share this far and wide with folks who might need it, repost, leave a comment, save to increase reach.

#adultadhd #genderinclusive #neuroaffirming #perimenopausesupport #menopausesupport

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DON’T HATE ME CAUSE I’M BEAUTIFUL NO MATTER WHAT ANYONE ELSE THINKS!

Thank you, why yes, I did wake up like this, literally this morning, and wow, I am stunning (and that’s not sarcasm). And I’m grateful to be alive.

Luisa @thesilverlining_1970 calling out the BS with proper WTAF deadpan vibes, and my 54 year old menopausal neck and I would like to personally thank her for her service and sass.

Listen. I know it’s hard. Unlearning culturally indoctrinated BS is not always easy.

But seriously, the patriarchy rooted in white supremacist misogynist trash has got us all believing that our naturally evolving bodies are not enough.

Not pretty enough.
Not thin enough.
Not lifted enough.
Not smooth enough.

Don’t believe the lies.

What if the ultimate self care were simply self love, acceptance and compassion for a body and brain and soul that have stood the test of time?

It’s ok to grieve real and even perceived loss. I’m legit struggling with recent changes to my body and face, and yeah, my hair and my neck especially.

Change is hard, but you know what?
Change is inevitable, and good change happens when we grow. Admittedly, I’m not into new chronic pain… that’s bad change, but I’m dealing with it, addressing it proactively and hopefully, good change will come from my actions and care.

What changes are you currently embracing? Which ones are you determined to accept, even if they’re driving you fucking nuts?

I love you just the way you are.

#perimenopausesupport #fuckthepatriarchy #unlearn #selfacceptancejourney #youareperfect

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What if crying isn’t a sign that you’re falling apart—but a sign that your mind and body are processing what they need to?

In this episode of the Fear of Change Podcast, Dr. Colleen Cira discusses how allowing ourselves to cry can help us move through difficult emotions and arrive at a place of greater clarity.

Many of us are taught to hold back our tears, push through, or “stay strong.” But when we suppress our emotions, we often stay stuck in them.

Crying can be a release.
A reset.
A way of honoring what we’re feeling instead of fighting it.

As Dr. Cira explains, once we allow ourselves to fully experience an emotion, we often find ourselves thinking more clearly, feeling more grounded, and better able to move forward.

Your tears aren’t a weakness. They may be part of the healing process.

🎧 Tune in to hear more about emotional resilience, self-compassion, and why feeling your emotions is often the path to greater well-being.

#FearOfChangePodcast #MentalHealthPodcast #EmotionalWellness #MentalHealthMatters #HealingJourney SelfCompassion PersonalGrowth EmotionalResilience

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Have you ever tried meditating for 30 seconds and thought, “This isn’t working”?

In this episode of the Fear of Change Podcast, Dr. Colleen Cira challenges the idea that a few seconds of mindfulness is enough to experience the true benefits of meditation.

When we first sit down to meditate, our thoughts are often loud. Our minds race through to-do lists, worries, distractions, and unfinished conversations. It takes time for the mental noise to settle.

That’s why Dr. Cira recommends a different approach: commit to 10 minutes of meditation a day for 30 days.

Not because you’ll do it perfectly.
Not because your mind will suddenly become quiet.
But because consistency creates change.

Meditation isn’t about eliminating your thoughts—it’s about building a new relationship with them.

🎧 Tune in to hear Dr. Cira’s practical insights on mindfulness, resilience, and creating habits that support long-term mental wellness.

Have you ever tried a meditation challenge? Let us know in the comments. ⬇️

#FearOfChangePodcast #Meditation #Mindfulness #MentalHealthPodcast #MentalWellness PersonalGrowth SelfAwareness StressManagement

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Why are women so often taught that they must choose between being endlessly self-sacrificing or being labeled “too much” for having boundaries?

In this episode of the Fear of Change Podcast, Dr. Colleen Cira explores the pressure many women feel to fit into limiting roles—and the freedom that comes from rejecting them.

You don’t have to be endlessly accommodating to be worthy of love.
You don’t have to abandon your needs to be compassionate.
And you don’t have to become hard or unkind to protect your self-respect.

As Dr. Cira shares, it’s possible to be both caring and boundaried. Soft and strong. Empathetic and self-honoring.

The healthiest version of ourselves isn’t found at either extreme—it’s found in the balance.

🎧 Tune in for a powerful conversation about self-worth, boundaries, emotional resilience, and what it means to show up authentically in your relationships and your life.

#FearOfChangePodcast #MentalHealthPodcast #Boundaries #SelfWorth #WomenAndMentalHealth EmotionalWellness PersonalGrowth Resilience MentalHealthMatters

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What if healing isn’t about controlling your emotions, but allowing yourself to feel them?

In this episode of the Fear of Change Podcast, Dr. Colleen Cira reminds us that emotions aren’t problems to solve—they’re experiences to move through.

It’s okay to cry.
It’s okay to feel angry.
It’s okay to grieve, feel disappointed, frustrated, or overwhelmed.

When we push our emotions away, they often grow louder. But when we acknowledge them with compassion and curiosity, we create space for healing.

Your emotions don’t make you weak. They make you human.

🎧 Tune in to hear Dr. Cira discuss emotional resilience, self-compassion, and why embracing your feelings may be one of the most powerful things you can do for your mental health.

#FearOfChangePodcast #MentalHealthPodcast #EmotionalWellness #SelfCompassion #HealingJourney MentalHealthMatters PersonalGrowth EmbraceYourEmotions

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What if, instead of avoiding challenges, you welcomed them?

In this episode of the Fear of Change Podcast, Dr. Colleen Cira shares a powerful intention she sets every morning: to embrace challenges and problems rather than resist them.

When we stop viewing obstacles as something that’s happening to us and start seeing them as opportunities for growth, resilience, and learning, our entire perspective can shift.

✨ Challenges can teach us.
✨ Discomfort can help us grow.
✨ Change can become less frightening when we trust our ability to navigate it.

Tune in to hear Dr. Cira’s insights on building resilience, approaching uncertainty with curiosity, and transforming the way we respond to life’s inevitable challenges.

🎧 Listen now wherever you get your podcasts.

#FearOfChangePodcast #MentalHealthPodcast #Resilience #PersonalGrowth #EmbraceChange MindsetShift MentalWellness SelfDevelopment

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She barely posted on LinkedIn…

…and still landed a $25,000 training contract from it.

Tomorrow at 11 AM CT, I’m going live with my former client Colleen Duffy Cira to unpack exactly how it all went down.

This is the conversation to watch if you’ve ever thought:

“I know I’m good at what I do… but I don’t think my online presence reflects it.”

Join us LIVE on Facebook
Tuesday, June 16
11 AM CT

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