April Rehrig is an educator, advocate, and champion for children and families who often feel overlooked in the realms of special education and neurodiversity.
She candidly discusses the challenges parents encounter within the school system—from navigating IEPs and addressing hidden disabilities to embracing the power of self-advocacy and owning their narratives. April confronts stigma, redefines resilience, and exemplifies what it truly means to rise up when life brings you down.
Tune in as we dive into:
(06:20) Turning struggle into a superpower
(08:11) How your brain really works
(12:09) Finding real connection again
(15:46) One boy’s silent fight
(17:25) The truth about special ed reform
(21:21) Know your rights
(24:51) When school becomes survival
(29:10) School to prison – the hidden link
(30:50) Why mentorship matters
(34:50) Rethinking how schools work
(36:59) Breaking the parent-school wall
(40:55) Build your vision plan
(44:21) Finding purpose in education
(47:41) Blending families your way
(52:04) Love starts with self-respect
(53:28) Growing together through it all
(57:29) Final thoughts and free tools
Links mentioned in this episode:
Rise Educational Advocacy: https://www.riseeducationaladvocacy.com/
Rise Educational Advocacy on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/riseedadvocacy/
Rise Educational Advocacy on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@riseedadvocacy
Rise Educational Advocacy on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/rise-educational-advocacy-and-consulting/
Get my latest book for FREE: Warrior in the Garden: 7 Rules for Men – PDF: https://carlosvasquez.systeme.io/warriorinthegarden
Thank you to Legendary Foods and Youth Champions for their support of this podcast. For more information, visit:
Legendary Foods Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/legendaryfoods
Youth Champions Website: https://youth-champions.org
