helping-parents-navigate-educational-systems-destiny-huff

EPISODE 132
Helping Parents Navigate
Educational Systems:
A Discussion with Dr. Destiny Huff

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Show Notes

As a mental health educational professional advocate, and as a black autistic mother of neurodivergent children, Dr. Destiny Huff brings her extensive knowledge of the law, her in depth, understanding of educational systems, and on the ground experience to her work. Destiny, Barry and Dave discuss the challenges that all parents face, but especially parents of color, in advocating for their child, while navigating the complications caused by various roles that parents may play in the process of interfacing with educational systems.

Preview: Neuroaffirming Advocacy Guide, By Destiny Huff

Featuring

Destiny Huff

Destiny Huff

Dr. Destiny Huff is a late-diagnosed Autistic and ADHD mental health professional and non-attorney special education advocate. She also is the mother of two neurodivergent learners on IEPs. She has been in the Mental Health field for over 15 years, and is a Licensed Professional Counselor who has worked in early childhood, elementary, middle, and high school settings. She also has worked as a reintegration case manager for youth in foster care and as a case manager and supervisor for individuals with severe mental health diagnoses and disabilities.  She worked side by side with early childhood educators, primary and secondary educators, trainers, instructional coaches, and administrators, and was able to see first hand what is needed for neurodivergent learners in their educational setting and what types of trainings and supports are necessary for staff to support neurodivergent children’s mental health in a variety of settings.

Connect with Destiny through her website

…and Continue the Discussion

Do you have a book or podcast club? If so, you may use this discussion guide to facilitate a conversation about this episode.

1) How has Destiny’s personal experiences, as a mental health advocate and black mother of two neurodivergent children informed her professional activities?

2)  Destiny makes a distinction between a parent, and a professional parent. What is that distinction and how does it create complications for parents whose career expertise may cause some role confusion for school-based professionals?

3)  What are the common “mistakes” that Destiny observes professionals make, even if unintentional, that interfere with the development of trusting relationships with parents?

4)  The IEP process is a unique and often stressful experience for parents. What advice does Destiny provider to support parents through this process that resonates with you?

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Music

Matt Savage, courtesy of Savage Records

Matt Savage is an autistic jazz musician, composer, and bandleader. Matt has collaborated with jazz greats like Chick Corea, the Ellington All Stars, Chaka Khan, Wynton Marsalis, Bobby Watson, Clark Terry, Jimmy Heath, Jason Moran, Arturo O’Farrill, John Pizzarelli, Joshua Redman, Terri Lyne Carrington, Jon Faddis, Jerry Bergonzi. Donny McCaslin, and more. He has recorded more than a dozen records and graciously contributes the music for Uniquely Human.

Production and Sound Design

ELEVATEDSTUDIO

Uniquely Human: The Podcast is produced, engineered, and edited by Elevated Studio in Denver, Colorado. Owned and operated by co-host Dave Finch, Elevated Studio produces digital media assets and content strategies for the electronics, entertainment, and lifestyle industries.