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Education Consultant
Helping Every Student Thrive
Insights, Tools, and Advocacy That Work
Welcome to The Connected Student Blog by Katie Furney — your go-to space for tips, strategies, and stories that help students succeed in and out of the classroom. Here you’ll find practical tools, advocacy guides, success stories, and expert insights to make the path clearer for parents, caregivers, and educators. I believe every student deserves the right support and a champion in their corner, and my mission is to connect the gap between school, home, and the resources that unlock a child’s potential.
All Posts
Quiet ADHD in Girls: The Hidden Signs Schools Miss and How to Advocate Early
Hey parents, if your daughter nails the "good girl" routine at school with decent grades and zero drama but drags home empty, foggy on homework and gutted over friendships that ghost her, ADHD might be pickpocketing her fire. I lived that exact script. Undiagnosed ADHD meant repeating first grade in my inattentive fog while all four brothers got flagged young for their ADHD or learning disabilities. Schools spotted their chaos easily (and even the ‘“calm' of my brother with i
Jan 123 min read
Breaking the Silence: Why AAC Isn’t a “Last Resort”
Let’s get real for a second. If you’re a parent of an autistic kiddo who isn't using much verbal speech yet, you’ve probably had that 2:00 AM panic : “If I give them a tablet to talk for them, am I giving up on their actual voice?” I get it. I’ve sat on both sides of the IEP table—first as a SPED teacher here in Virginia, and now as your partner-in-advocacy at The Connected Student. That fear is human, but I’m here to give you a soulful exhale: AAC (Augmentative and Alternati
Jan 23 min read
Winter Break and the Stuff No One at School Talks About
Winter break is here. Two weeks off. No schedule. No homework. No school emails staring you down at 9:42 p.m. If you’re parenting a child with an IEP or any child for that matter, you’re probably in one of two camps right now: - “Thank God, we can rest.” - “Oh Lawd, they’re home. All day. For two weeks.” Both are valid. Both are real. And both can exist in the same body on the same day. I’m Katie, special education family advocate and former special education teac
Dec 26, 20256 min read
America's Reading Crisis: Why Your Kid's Stuck in the Illiteracy Trap (And How Logic Sets Them Free)
Parents, let's get real—I'm that former Virginia special ed teacher turned family advocate with The Connected Student, and I've held crying kids who "should" read by now but can't crack "cat." Soul-crushing. America's illiteracy rates? A dumpster fire: 54% of adults read below 6th-grade level, and 1 in 5 kids hit 4th grade unable to read proficiently. That's not lazy parenting or "bad seeds"—it's a systemic betrayal dressed as "balanced literacy." Enter "The Logic of English"
Dec 19, 20253 min read
Your Child Is Avoiding Reading? Here’s What That Actually Means
Let’s cut the crap. Watching your kid dodge reading like it’s a tax audit? It’s heartbreaking, frustrating, and yeah, a total gut punch. As a former special ed teacher turned Virginia family advocate and reading interventionist with The Connected Student, I’ve seen this play out a hundred times. Avoidance isn’t rebellion; it’s your child’s quiet way of saying, “This hurts my soul.” We’re not here to battle schools (though sometimes we gotta nudge ’em hard), we’re bridging gap
Dec 15, 20252 min read
5 IEP Red Flags Every Parent Should Catch Early (and What They Actually Mean)
Listen up, parents—I've been in the trenches, and these IEP moments? They hit like a gut punch you didn't see coming. We're not here to wage war on schools (though yeah, sometimes we gotta light a fire under 'em), but to cut through the BS with smart talk and soul-deep strategies that actually land what your kid deserves. Spot these flags waving, and we'll pivot to real wins, no drama required. Red Flag #1: Gut feelings brushed off + meetings that leave you spinning Sounds l
Dec 5, 20253 min read
Micro Joy: A Realistic Approach to Caregiver Self-Care
November is National Family Caregivers Month—a time to honor the everyday superheroes who show up with love, grit, and yes, that never-ending to-do list. This includes the 16.8 million people in the U.S. caring for a child with disabilities or complex medical needs, a powerful part of an estimated 52 million total caregivers nationwide. If you’re raising a kid with developmental or learning differences, your days are running marathons most people don’t even know exist. Appoin
Nov 10, 20253 min read
The Paper Storm in Special Education: THIS is the Document Management System to Use
Ah, back to school… that magical time when backpacks smell new, pencils are freshly sharpened, and… …a tidal wave of paper hits your...
Aug 21, 20256 min read
3 Back-to-School Must-Dos for Special Education Parents
Back to school time is always a whirlwind. But if your child has an IEP or is in Special Education, you know it’s a whole different level...
Aug 8, 20253 min read
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