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Photo courtesy of Jordan Steranka on Unsplash One of the most common things we hear from parents is, "I just don't know what to do." The system can feel complex. The language can feel overwhelming. And the stakes feel incredibly high - because it's your child. But here's what we want you to know: You don't have to figure it out all on your own. Support can look like: asking questions getting a second opinion having someone walk along side of you during the process Whether tha

There are moments when you just know that something isn't right. It's not always obvious. It might show up as hesitation, frustration, or a sense that your child is working harder than they should be. Often, the first response is to wait. To see if it passes. To trust that it will resolve on it's own. Sometimes it does. But sometimes it doesn't. In our work, we've met families who say the same thing. "I knew something was off, but I wasn't sure what to do next." That's where

Photo courtesy of Aditi Gautam on Unsplash An Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE) can feel intimidating at first. The name alone sounds formal and even overwhelming. But at its core, an IEE is simply this: A second, independent look at your child's learning and development. It is: Conducted by qualified professionals outside of the school district Designed to provide a clear, updated picture of your child A tool to support better decision making It is not: A way to "chal

Families often sense when something isn't quite right. Messages feel mixed. Meetings feel confusing. One person says one thing, another says something different. It can leave families wondering: " Are the adults actually on the same page ?" That feeling usually isn't about people not caring. It's about misalignment inside the system. beautiful photo courtesy of Mansur Omar on Unsplash Alignment Is Not Everyone Agreeing When school teams are aligned, it doesn't mean they all t

Trust is the heartbeat of every strong IEP team. When trust is present, conversations feel collaborative, decisions feel shared and families walk away feeling seen, heard and supported. When trust is missing, even the most well-intentioned meeting can feel tense, rushed or confusing. When emotions are high and the stakes feel deeply personal, trust isn't a "nice-to-have", it's essential. Here are some small shifts that make the biggest difference. Start with Transparency Fami

photo courtesy of Joseph Chan on Unsplash What is an IEE? An Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE) is an evaluation conducted by a qualified professional who is not employed by the school district. Families may request an IEE if they disagree with a district's evaluation. Districts may also seek independent evaluations to support educational decision-making. Our role is to provide objective, high-quality evaluations that help teams move forward with clarity. Areas of Evalu

The first months of the year set the tone for everything that follows. In classrooms and school systems, these first 90 days offer a powerful opportunity to reset, reconnect and rebuild the foundations that help every child and every adult thrive. photo courtesy of Aaron Burden Whether you're an educator, a family member or a district leader, this season is a chance to create predictable rhythms, strengthen communication and support regulation and learning in ways that last a

Empowerment through understanding IEP meetings can feel overwhelming, lots of professionals, acronyms, and decisions that impact your child's learning. But here's the truth: parents are equal members of the IEP team. Knowing the right questions to ask helps you feel confident, builds collaboration and ensures that your child gets the supports they deserve. At Miyahara and Associates, we've sat on both sides of the table. We know the most productive meetings are the one's wher

Over the past week, we've shared pieces of our story: our mission and vision, why we started, the importance of family involvement, the...

In education, it's tempting to look for quick fixes: hire one more specialist, add one more form, patch one more hole. But anyone who's...

Special education today faces a mountain of challenges and pretending otherwise doesn't help families or schools. The reality? Overload :...

When we think about special education, we often picture the big moments, the IEP meeting, a test score, a classroom placement, the number...

At Miyahara and Associates, we believe families are the child's first and strongest advocates . When families are included as true...

Every organization begins with a spark. For Miyahara and Associates, that spark included years of sitting in the classrooms, conference...

" We have concerns about your child" When a parent first hears the words, the world can tilt. Questions race: What does this mean? Will...

MTSS or Multi-Tiered System of Supports, is a framework schools use to provide the right level of help to students at the right time....

Jackie pictured here with her husband and biggest fan! At Miyahara & Associates, we pride ourselves on bringing deep expertise,...

At Miyahara & Associates, we believe meaningful change in education doesn't happen because of new policies, reports or even...

When we started Miyahara and Associates, LLC, we weren't just launching a business we were answering a call we both felt throughout our...