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In this episode of Parenthood Unscripted, I welcome back Dr. Anne McIntosh for another thoughtful conversation about communication, advocacy, accessibility, and what it truly means to create inclusive environments for everyone.
Anne shares her personal experiences navigating marriage and parenting in a deaf-hearing household, offering practical wisdom about meeting people where they are, focusing on strengths instead of differences, and building relationships rooted in acceptance rather than expectations.
We also dive into one of Anne's greatest passions: improving communication access in healthcare through transparent surgical masks. She explains why communication accommodations benefit far more than just the Deaf and hard of hearing community and how each of us can play a role in advocating for more accessible healthcare.
Finally, we explore one of my favorite topics: parent advocacy. Anne shares practical advice for advocating confidently without becoming adversarial, why collaboration almost always creates better outcomes than confrontation, and how parents can prepare for difficult conversations with schools and medical professionals.
Whether you're raising a child with disabilities, navigating IEP meetings, supporting someone with communication differences, or simply hoping to become a more effective advocate, this episode is full of practical strategies and perspective shifts that will leave you feeling empowered.
In this episode, we discuss:
• Navigating marriage and parenting in a deaf-hearing household
• Why focusing on strengths creates healthier relationships than focusing on differences
• Meeting communication partners where they are instead of expecting one-size-fits-all communication
• The importance of transparent surgical masks and communication accessibility in healthcare
• Why communication accommodations benefit everyone—not just Deaf and hard of hearing individuals
• How to advocate for communication access at medical and dental appointments
• The difference between advocating for your own child and advocating for systemic change
• Why collaboration is often more effective than confrontation in IEP meetings and school conversations
• Practical ways to advocate confidently without being perceived as "difficult"
• The importance of practicing difficult conversations and regulating emotions before advocacy meetings
• How trusted professionals and advocates can help parents communicate more effectively
• Why the ultimate goal isn't winning the argument. It's helping your child succeed
Connect with Dr. Anne McIntosh:
🌐 Safe'N'Clear: https://www.safenclear.com
📧 Email: Anne.McIntosh@SafeNClear.com
One of the biggest takeaways from this conversation is that effective advocacy isn't about being the loudest voice in the room. It's about being prepared, collaborative, and confident.
If you've ever walked into an IEP meeting feeling overwhelmed, unsure what to say, or worried about advocating "the right way," you're not alone.
That's exactly why I created the Advocacy Accelerator, my signature 8-week parent advocacy program designed to help you understand the special education process, communicate effectively, advocate strategically, and walk into meetings with confidence.
✨ Enrollment is open now
✨ Learn more: www.empoweredparentnetwork.org/advocacyaccelerator
If this episode encouraged you, please follow Parenthood Unscripted, leave a rating or review, and share it with another parent or professional who believes every child deserves to be heard and every family deserves to feel confident advocating for them. 🤍
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