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Steve Harvey is Turnout's new Chief Advocate Officer, and we're in Forbes

Steve Harvey and Turnout were featured in Forbes for their new product called Radar.

What to Do When the School Says the Hearing Aids Are Enough

The short answer Your child wears hearing aids or a cochlear implant, seems to be keeping up, and the school says that's enough. It's fair to wonder if you're missing something. You're not. Here's the direct answer: yes, the school still has to help. Hearing devices are a huge help, but they don't end the school's duty to look at what your child needs. Under federal special education law, a child who is deaf or hard of hearing has needs that go beyond how well a device works in a quiet room. T

Does Hearing Loss Qualify for an IEP? A Parent's Guide

Is your child deaf or hard of hearing, and you're wondering whether the public school has to step in? It does. Under federal law, a child who is deaf or hard of hearing can qualify for an Individualized Education Program, or IEP. That's the written special-education plan a public school must provide to a child who needs it. Here's how the law works and how you start. Deafness and hearing impairment are two ways to qualify The law that covers this is the Individuals with Disabilities Education

Does a Speech or Language Delay Qualify for an IEP?

Your child has trouble talking, being understood, or putting words together, and you're wondering whether the school has to do anything about it. The short answer is yes. A speech or language delay can qualify your child for school support, and you have the right to ask the school to check, in writing, at no cost to you. Here's what that support looks like and how you start it. Speech and language is its own special education category Under federal law, a speech or language problem is one of

What to Do When the School Says "Let's Wait and See" About Your Child's Speech

The school says your child will "grow out of it," or that speech help doesn't need an Individualized Education Program (IEP). You're wondering what your child is actually entitled to, and whether "let's wait and see" is even allowed. Here's the direct answer: under federal law, you can ask the school to evaluate your child in writing at any time. The school cannot make you wait first. And if a speech or language delay is affecting your child's learning, you have the right to a full evaluation t

Can Anxiety or Depression Qualify Your Child for an IEP?

Is my child's anxiety something the school has to help with? If your child's anxiety, depression, or behavior at school has you wondering whether the school is required to step in, you're asking the right question. The short answer: yes, it can be. A mental or emotional health condition can qualify your child for special education support under federal law, if it affects how they function at school. Here's how that works, and what you can do this week. The law that covers this is the Individua

My Child's Grades Are Fine, So Why Would the School Evaluate for an IEP?

You've been told your child's grades are fine, so why worry about an evaluation? Maybe a teacher said it kindly. Maybe someone suggested you "try some support strategies first and see." If your child is anxious, shutting down, or struggling emotionally at school, that answer can leave you stuck. Here's the most useful thing to know: you can request a free school evaluation for an IEP in writing at any time, even when your child's grades look okay. Good grades don't cancel out that right. This p

Intellectual Disability and School "Wait and See" Delays

You asked the school to test your child, and someone suggested waiting. Maybe they want to try more classroom support first, or give it another semester, or see how things go before doing a full evaluation. You are allowed to ask for that evaluation now, and the school has to respond. Here's the single most useful thing to know: under federal law, you can request a free evaluation in writing at any time. The school can't require you to wait through months of extra support before it agrees to te

Does an Intellectual Disability Qualify for an IEP?

Your child was just diagnosed with an intellectual disability, or a doctor thinks one might be there, and now you're wondering what the school has to do about it. The short answer: a diagnosis opens the door, but it doesn't hand you an Individualized Education Program (IEP) on its own. An IEP is a written plan, required by federal law, that spells out the special education and support your child gets at school. What "intellectual disability" means under IDEA Under the federal special educatio

Does a Developmental Delay Qualify for an IEP?

Your child's teacher or doctor said the words "developmental delay," and now you're wondering what it means for school. The short answer: yes, a developmental delay can qualify your child for an IEP. Here's how that works. An IEP is an Individualized Education Program, the written special-education plan a public school must provide by law. That law is the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), the federal rule that guarantees eligible children a free, appropriate public education.

What to Do About a Developmental Delay Now

If your child's school or doctor has said "let's wait and see" about a possible delay, you're probably wondering the same thing most parents wonder: Do I have to accept that? The short answer is no. You can ask for a free evaluation in writing, and once you do, a legal clock starts running. That one action is the most concrete step you can take right now. It doesn't matter that someone suggested waiting first. A written request puts the decision in your hands, not theirs. What "wait and see"

Does Your Child's Health Condition Qualify for an IEP?

If your child has a diagnosis like asthma, epilepsy, ADHD, diabetes, or a heart condition, you're probably asking a very direct question: does this qualify them for support at school? The honest answer is that it can, but the diagnosis by itself isn't the deciding factor. What matters is whether the condition affects how your child learns and functions in the classroom. Here's the most useful thing to know first. You don't have to wait for the school to notice a problem. You can ask for a free