My guest this week is Dr. Courtney Kowalczyk. 

In this episode, Dr. Courtney and I are discussing a topic that I get asked about most, school! Specifically about getting the education and help at school your child needs. Issues can arise with kids of all ages, especially when a child has extra challenges that impact their learning or behavior. The school environment can be a tough thing to navigate, and parents often feel at a major disadvantage with not understanding how these systems work, or what is available to help their child. So to answer the many questions I receive around the topic of school; whether it’s how to best deal with schools and teachers, how to get the right support for your child who’s struggling, or choosing the right educational setting, Dr. Courtney is the perfect expert to share her insights and tips.

Dr. Courtney Kowalczyk has been a therapist at Horizons, my clinic, for over 15 years. She is a Limited Licensed Psychologist and Certified Special Education teacher. Dr. Courtney began her career within the public school environment as a special education teacher and teacher consultant. She's worked with students of all ages with a variety of disabilities including cognitive impairment, Autism Spectrum Disorder, learning disabilities, executive function disabilities, physical impairments, health conditions, and speech and language impairments. Her work has focused on psychological evaluation and treatment of mental health and neurodevelopmental conditions. Dr. Courtney is actively involved in the realm of education, and provides ongoing consultation services to several schools within and outside of Michigan. She's also a co-author of Learning as We Grow, a text written to support individuals with disabilities in the educational environment along with their teachers and caregivers.

Connect with Dr. Courtney Kowalczyk:

• Twitter: https://twitter.com/HorizonsDRC
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HorizonsDRC/
• Website: https://www.horizonsdrc.com/staff/courtney-kowalczyk
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/courtney-kowalczyk-3089b484/

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Episode Takeaways

Episode Intro … 00:00:30

Intro to Dr. Courtney Kowalczyk … 00:01:20 

Kids Progress Better with a Bigger Support Network … 00:05:45

School has Become More Challenging for Kids … 00:08:36

Importance of Good Relationships & Communication in School & Home … 00:13:18

Clinical/Medical Diagnoses Outside the School System … 00:20:37

Special Education Process Criteria … 00:23:00

Meeting Physical Medical Needs at School … 00:28:50

Be Proactive with Communicating Needs for Your Child … 00:31:35

Best Approach When a Child is Struggling at School … 00:34:40

Be Your Child’s Best Advocate & Follow up if Deadlines Are Missed … 00:41:20

You’ve Done Everything & Child is Still Struggling … 00:43:30

Resources, Consults & Episode Wrap Up … 00:51:40

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