Disability Labs Podcast Network

Welcome to the Disability Labs Podcast Network (DLPN) — a collaborative audio hub where educators, therapists, curriculum designers, and purpose-driven creators come together to amplify the voices of students who learn differently.

Founded by Cheri Dotterer, occupational therapist and host of The Writing Glitch, Tier 1 Interventions, and The Purpose-Filled Teacher, LDPN is a one-of-a-kind space uniting podcasts dedicated to the science, stories, and strategies behind learning disabilities like dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, ADHD, and more.

Whether you're a parent seeking hope, a teacher searching for effective tools, or a clinician committed to making a difference, LDPN offers expert interviews, hands-on interventions, and personal breakthroughs that go beyond labels. We don’t just talk about learning struggles—we provide real, neuroscience-based solutions that ignite potential and reimagine possibility.

Through our network of independently hosted shows, we foster collaboration, spark innovation, and empower leaders in the field of learning support. LDPN is also home to a new generation of teacherpreneurs and educators called to create impact while staying rooted in purpose.

Want to launch your own podcast within the LDPN family? We're looking for mission-aligned creators to join us. If your podcast explores learning differences and inclusive education, there’s a seat at our table.

Shows

All Shows →

The Writing Glitch: Hack Dysgraphia No Pencil Required

The Writing Glitch is brought to you by Dotterer Educational Consulting. Our Founder and Owner, Cheri Dotterer, is the host. Build courage, compassion, and collaboration to help students thrive and grow leaders that transcend a lifetime, regardless of dyslexia, dysgraphia, and dyscalculia, using sensory-motor processing and neuroscience-based instructional interventions. No Pencil Required! We interview teachers, therapists, and parents about how they have seen a transformation in children having these disabilities and co-morbid conditions such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). They share how they help students grow and prosper. We believe we can grow 110 million leaders together by building skills, applying knowledge, and transcending futures. Join us to hack dysgraphia. No Pencil Required. Each episode contains one intervention to help you support students with writing challenges the next day you are in your classroom. These interventions are explicit, systematic, cumulative, and multisensory. They are designed to support ALL students through targeted, daily visual-perceptual, visual-motor, and memory interventions. These interventions benefit all students and harm none. All students have access to writing regardless of their status in the classroom. The interventions were created to take up to 30 seconds to 2 minutes of your classroom time. Strategic lesson planning increases classroom engagement. All interventions can be adapted for students with physical disabilities because they support the Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) and well-being of all students. In addition, these interventions impact all subject matter classrooms. Whether you are teaching English language arts, mathematics, social studies, science, music, or art, these interventions will benefit your classroom atmosphere across ALL grade levels. You have put your blood, sweat, and tears into investing in your education and children. Don’t let a misunderstanding about this disability stop you from providing best practices. In case you don’t know me. I’m Cheri Dotterer, 2022 Dysgraphia Expert of the Year. This honor was bestowed on me by Global Health and Pharma Magazine. In 2023, they awarded my company the Best Dysgraphia Professional Development Program. It took challenges at home and on the job to wake me up to the impact dysgraphia has on all students. Struggling my entire life with communication issues, I was mistaken that only students with learning disabilities could have dysgraphia. My thoughts shifted when my gifted daughter asked for help with spelling. My son struggles with handwriting. Then, a parent asked me why her child could read and have trouble writing. Finding answers became the drive that gets me out of bed in the morning. It’s a big shock when you discover how pervasive writing difficulties are and how little people know about how to help–even OTs. I used to think I was the only OT who struggled with understanding dysgraphia. It turns out many have questions. Occupational, physical, and speech therapists are not trained to teach. Teachers are. Occupational, speech, and physical therapists are trained in neuroscience. Teachers are not. Let this podcast be your first line of defense to help your students transcend their learning disabilities. Show your school district how much you genuinely care about all of your students by sharing it with your colleagues. After each episode, I challenge you to share your key takeaway from the podcast in our FREE yet private community. Share your student wins. Get support on the challenges. Join The Writing Glitch Community. https://thewritingglitch.com/ Connect with Cheri at www.cheridotterer.com or info@thewritingglitch.com

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Podcast Shorts from the Disability Labs Podcast Network

The Disability Labs Podcast Network is brought to you by Dotterer Educational Consulting, a Therapy Services, LLC, and Minds on Math, LLC. We focus on dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia, and ADHD. Enclosed are excerpts from the shows on our network. Current shows include: The Writing Glitch and Tier 1 Interventions We also share sample Hear Me Teach segments. A complete package of these segments is included at Tier 1 Interventions Workshops. 👉 Join our free masterclass for school leaders, teachers, and occupational therapists: https://disabilitylabs.com/live-webinar/freemasterclass/register

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Tier 1 Interventions

Math intervention, writing intervention, neurobiology, and cognitive-based learning - Jonily Zupancic and Cheri Dotterer are sharing how to incorporate them into your classroom. Jonily is a secondary math teacher and instructional coach for math K-12. Cheri is an occupational therapist specializing in neurology-based treatment across the lifespan and a Strategy-based Interventionist. Jonily secretly calls Cheri her Lesson Plan Whisperer because Cheri is always in her head, reminding her of the foundations of development before academics begin. They met in 2018 and have been talking ever since. Together, they have discovered the Miracle Math Classroom. This classroom embeds all math standards from Kindergarten to twelfth grade, plus neuro-based interventions that improve proficiency and boost student engagement. Both gifted and learning support students thrive using the interventions they share, plus all students in between. Using cognitive enhancing techniques strategically placed in the lesson plan, students learn more and enjoy school more, and fewer students get removed from critical instruction for Tier Three Interventions. Jonily has discovered how to teach all Kindergarten through algebra math standards using twelve, that’s right, twelve Reference Tasks. They include the Pizza Problem, 120-Chart, Paper Folding, Making Rectangles, Quick Dots, Locker Problem, Jesse and Kay, Geoboard, Candy Problem, Paint Problem, Staircase, and the Function Machine. Cheri uses Body-Brain Anchors to ignite the flame inside everyone’s brain for learning. Whether a person is five or 90, her strategy-based interventions will ignite that flame. These Brain-Body Anchors include the Handstand Flip, Interlaced Bilateral Integration, and the Body Sentence Alphabet. Together, they connect the puzzle behind math instruction and instructional delivery alongside these cognitive-enhancing activities to maximize math education for all students. Join us live on the third Saturday of the month, sans July, for the math behind the Reference Task. Every live event is approximately 2.5 contact hours. The first 30-ish minutes become this podcast. To hear the entire training, join our membership program. Please note: we will not record on holiday weekends. Join our mailing list for updates on dates. To join us live, register at Tier1interventions.com. The 2.5-hour sessions include the PowerPoint slides, additional audio files of Jonily teaching the Reference Task, resources from Cheri, and much more. A subscription to these 2.5-hour Workshops is $97/month or $947/year. Membership includes: *Approximately 27.5 hours of direct training per year *Audio files of Jonily's Hear Me Teach segments - complete *PowerPoint Slides to grab and use in your Magic Math Classroom *Resources from Jonily and Cheri for you and your students *A copy of Math DYSconnected when released. Or, you can listen to the first segment on your favorite podcast app for free; no membership is required. No matter how you listen, you will come away with golden nuggets that will transform your classroom. Reach out to Jonily: jonily@mindsonmath.com Reach out to Cheri: info@cheridotterer.com Tier1Interventions.com

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Latest Episodes

Why Counting Is the Hidden Foundation of Math

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Tier 1 Interventions

Why Counting Is the Hidden Foundation of Math

What if the most advanced math ideas actually start with the simplest skill students learn first?In this final episode of the Tier One Interventions workshop series, we explore a powerful truth: counting is the foundation of mathematical thinking.From counting blocks in rectangles to identifying factors in the locker problem, students build deeper understanding when they repeatedly return to meaningful counting experiences.These reference tasks allow students to reconnect to core ideas when they struggle:• Making rectangles • Using dimension charts • Exploring the locker problem • Working through diamond problemsInstead of memorizing disconnected procedures, students learn to recognize the structure behind numbers.Over time, these repeated experiences build the bridge from counting → multiplication → area → algebraic reasoning.This episode concludes our 10-part October workshop series on how math learning develops across grade levels.👍 Subscribe to Tier 1 Interventions for more strategies that improve math learning and student success.🔗 Get involved with Tier 1 Interventions coaching: Check the link in the show notes to join live sessions or access the full year of professional learning. Join one Mastery Math Method Workshop for just $47.Contact jonily@mindsonmath.com👇 Comment below: Where do you see kids getting stuck most often in math?⏱ Timestamps0:25 The “third way” of teaching math1:00 Using reference tasks when students struggle2:00 Why counting is the hidden foundation of math3:10 Counting blocks in rectangles4:10 How counting leads to multiplication5:10 Connecting counting to area and factors6:30 Why reference tasks work across grade levels8:00 Counting groups in algebra expressions10:00 Teacher reflections and insights14:30 Why micro learning builds deep understanding18:00 Counting connects elementary math to algebra23:00 Final reflections from the workshop24:30 Closing and next series announcement🎯 Ready to Change Math Outcomes in 10 Days?👉 Join our FREE Masterclass for school leaders, teachers, and OTs: https://disabilitylabs.com/calendar🎧 Prefer to Listen On the Go?SpotifyApple PodcastsAmazon/Audible🔗 Stay Connected🌐 Website: https://disabilitylabs.com/courses/mastery-math-bundle 📧 Disability Labs Community: https://disabilitylabs.com/community/3d-learning-lounge-1🎙️ Credits: Host: Cheri Dotterer Co-Host: Jonily Zupancic Production: Disability Labs Podcast Network🧠 Resources Mentioned:Mastery Math Method Level One (Lifetime Access): https://disabilitylabs.com/courses/mastery-math-bundleMastery Math Method Live sessions (Annual Subscription): https://disabilitylabs.com/courses/mastery-math-method-group-coaching⚠️ Disclaimer: The content shared in this video is for educational purposes only and does not replace your district’s policies or individualized education plans. Always consult with your instructional team before implementing new strategies.KeywordsTier 1 math instruction, math achievement, math intervention, Algebra 1 instruction, brain-based math, math pacing guide, math scope and sequence, Novel Model, Mastery Math Method, math structure, K-12 math, math education reform, Tier 1 interventions, number sense, math retention

Math Facts Are Really Rectangle Relationships

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Tier 1 Interventions

Math Facts Are Really Rectangle Relationships

Why do so many students struggle to remember multiplication facts?In this episode of Tier 1 Interventions, we explore a powerful idea: math facts make more sense when students understand them as rectangle relationships rather than isolated numbers to memorize.Using tasks like the locker problem, making rectangles, diamond problems, and dimension charts, students begin to see the structure behind multiplication. Instead of guessing or memorizing facts, they learn to recognize patterns, dimensions, and arrays.This approach introduces what we call the third way of teaching math.Instead of: • telling students the answer • or forcing them to struggle without supportteachers can guide students through reference tasks that reveal the structure of mathematics.When students see how numbers connect through rectangles and arrays, multiplication becomes logical, visual, and transferable to higher levels of math.This episode is Segment 9 of our 10-part workshop series exploring how deeper math thinking develops in the classroom👍 Subscribe to Tier 1 Interventions for more strategies that improve math learning and student success.🔗 Get involved with Tier 1 Interventions coaching: Check the link in the show notes to join live sessions or access the full year of professional learning. Join one Mastery Math Method Workshop for just $47.Contact jonily@mindsonmath.com👇 Comment below: Where do you see kids getting stuck most often in math?⏱ Timestamps0:25 Why math facts are really rectangle relationships1:00 Choosing numbers and building rectangles2:00 How diamond problems connect to arrays3:00 Understanding the “array number”4:10 Why multiplication becomes area in later grades5:10 The multiplication chart as a dimension chart6:30 Connecting rectangles to the locker problem8:10 Finding factors through rectangle dimensions9:40 Why some numbers appear more often in the chart11:00 Asking task-dependent questions in math class12:00 The “third way” to support struggling students13:00 Workshop invitation and closing🎯 Ready to Change Math Outcomes in 10 Days?👉 Join our FREE Masterclass for school leaders, teachers, and OTs: https://disabilitylabs.com/calendar🎧 Prefer to Listen On the Go?SpotifyApple PodcastsAmazon/Audible🔗 Stay Connected🌐 Website: https://disabilitylabs.com/courses/mastery-math-bundle 📧 Disability Labs Community: https://disabilitylabs.com/community/3d-learning-lounge-1🎙️ Credits: Host: Cheri Dotterer Co-Host: Jonily Zupancic Production: Disability Labs Podcast Network🧠 Resources Mentioned:Mastery Math Method Level One (Lifetime Access): https://disabilitylabs.com/courses/mastery-math-bundleMastery Math Method Live sessions (Annual Subscription): https://disabilitylabs.com/courses/mastery-math-method-group-coaching⚠️ Disclaimer: The content shared in this video is for educational purposes only and does not replace your district’s policies or individualized education plans. Always consult with your instructional team before implementing new strategies.KeywordsTier 1 math instruction, math achievement, math intervention, Algebra 1 instruction, brain-based math, math pacing guide, math scope and sequence, Novel Model, Mastery Math Method, math structure, K-12 math, math education reform, Tier 1 interventions, number sense, math retention

Why Good Math Teaching Doesn’t Always Look Like Teaching

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Tier 1 Interventions

Why Good Math Teaching Doesn’t Always Look Like Teaching

What does real math instruction actually look like in a classroom?Sometimes it looks messy.Students are moving, talking, comparing strategies, and solving problems together. To an outside observer, it might look like students are off task—but in reality, deep mathematical thinking is happening.In this episode of Tier 1 Interventions, we explore why powerful math instruction can be misunderstood during classroom observations and why responsive teaching often looks different from traditional whole-class instruction.In this session we discuss:• Why small-group facilitation can look like “not teaching” • How mini lessons replace long whole-class explanations • Why some students may appear off task but are still thinking mathematically • How teachers can respond to observation feedback • The importance of intentional lesson design and pre-planningWhen students are actively discussing strategies, comparing solutions, and solving problems together, they are doing the work of mathematicians.This video is Session 8 of a 10-part October Workshop Series exploring how math instruction can support deeper thinking and stronger student independence.👍 Subscribe to Tier 1 Interventions for more strategies that improve math learning and student success.🔗 Get involved with Tier 1 Interventions coaching: Check the link in the show notes to join live sessions or access the full year of professional learning. Join one Mastery Math Method Workshop for just $47.Contact jonily@mindsonmath.com👇 Comment below: Where do you see kids getting stuck most often in math?⏱ Timestamps0:30 When observers think teaching isn’t happening1:20 Why responsive teaching looks different2:15 Whole-class lectures vs. mini lessons3:20 Why some students appear off task4:10 The role of student discussion in math learning5:00 Responding to observation feedback6:00 When administrators misunderstand instruction7:10 Why intentional planning matters8:20 What deep math learning actually looks like🎯 Ready to Change Math Outcomes in 10 Days?👉 Join our FREE Masterclass for school leaders, teachers, and OTs: https://disabilitylabs.com/calendar🎧 Prefer to Listen On the Go?SpotifyApple PodcastsAmazon/Audible🔗 Stay Connected🌐 Website: https://disabilitylabs.com/courses/mastery-math-bundle 📧 Disability Labs Community: https://disabilitylabs.com/community/3d-learning-lounge-1🎙️ Credits: Host: Cheri Dotterer Co-Host: Jonily Zupancic Production: Disability Labs Podcast Network🧠 Resources Mentioned:Mastery Math Method Level One (Lifetime Access): https://disabilitylabs.com/courses/mastery-math-bundleMastery Math Method Live sessions (Annual Subscription): https://disabilitylabs.com/courses/mastery-math-method-group-coaching⚠️ Disclaimer: The content shared in this video is for educational purposes only and does not replace your district’s policies or individualized education plans. Always consult with your instructional team before implementing new strategies.KeywordsTier 1 math instruction, math achievement, math intervention, Algebra 1 instruction, brain-based math, math pacing guide, math scope and sequence, Novel Model, Mastery Math Method, math structure, K-12 math, math education reform, Tier 1 interventions, number sense, math retention

How to Teach Students to Ask Better Questions in Math

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Tier 1 Interventions

How to Teach Students to Ask Better Questions in Math

Many students say the same thing when they are stuck in math:"I need help."But they often cannot explain what they need help with.In this episode of Tier 1 Interventions, we explore how teachers can help students develop the ability to ask better questions, identify where they are stuck, and become more independent learners.Instead of relying on whole-class lectures, this session shows how small group facilitation, mini lessons, and responsive teaching can help students learn how to articulate their thinking.In this session we discuss:• Why students often struggle to explain what they don’t understand • How teachers can train students to ask clearer questions • The role of mini lessons in responsive teaching • How classroom structure supports independence and problem solving • Why facilitation often looks different from traditional teachingWhen students learn how to identify their confusion and ask specific questions, they begin to take ownership of their learning.This video is Session 7 of a 10-part October Workshop Series exploring how math instruction can support deeper thinking and stronger student independence.👍 Subscribe to Tier 1 Interventions for more strategies that improve math learning and student success.🔗 Get involved with Tier 1 Interventions coaching: Check the link in the show notes to join live sessions or access the full year of professional learning. Join one Mastery Math Method Workshop for just $47.Contact jonily@mindsonmath.com👇 Comment below: Where do you see kids getting stuck most often in math?⏱ Timestamps0:30 Why students often say “I need help”1:20 Helping students identify what they don’t understand2:15 Teaching students to ask better questions3:20 Mini lessons vs. whole-class instruction4:15 How small group facilitation supports learning5:10 Training students to think about their thinking6:00 Helping students articulate their confusion7:00 Classroom structures that support independence8:10 Why responsive teaching builds stronger learners🎯 Ready to Change Math Outcomes in 10 Days?👉 Join our FREE Masterclass for school leaders, teachers, and OTs: https://disabilitylabs.com/calendar🎧 Prefer to Listen On the Go?SpotifyApple PodcastsAmazon/Audible🔗 Stay Connected🌐 Website: https://disabilitylabs.com/courses/mastery-math-bundle 📧 Disability Labs Community: https://disabilitylabs.com/community/3d-learning-lounge-1🎙️ Credits: Host: Cheri Dotterer Co-Host: Jonily Zupancic Production: Disability Labs Podcast Network🧠 Resources Mentioned:Mastery Math Method Level One (Lifetime Access): https://disabilitylabs.com/courses/mastery-math-bundleMastery Math Method Live sessions (Annual Subscription): https://disabilitylabs.com/courses/mastery-math-method-group-coaching⚠️ Disclaimer: The content shared in this video is for educational purposes only and does not replace your district’s policies or individualized education plans. Always consult with your instructional team before implementing new strategies.KeywordsTier 1 math instruction, math achievement, math intervention, Algebra 1 instruction, brain-based math, math pacing guide, math scope and sequence, Novel Model, Mastery Math Method, math structure, K-12 math, math education reform, Tier 1 interventions, number sense, math retention

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Tier 1 Interventions

The Math Education Shift Teachers Need

Why do students struggle with math — even when they get the answer right?In this full math professional development training, Jonily — founder of Minds on Math and host of Saturday Math — challenges one of the biggest misconceptions in math education:Solving is not learning.For decades, math instruction has prioritized procedures, algorithms, and finishing problems. But true math achievement comes from something deeper: number sense, reasoning, and conceptual understanding.If you're a math teacher, instructional coach, intervention specialist, or school leader working to improve math achievement and raise math test scores, this training will show you what most curriculum models get wrong — and how to fix it.In This Math Instruction Training, You’ll Learn:✔ The critical difference between number sense and notation✔ Conceptual vs procedural math instruction — and why balance matters✔ Why solving problems doesn’t guarantee understanding✔ How to improve math test scores without teaching more procedures✔ How the brain actually learns mathematics✔ Instructional strategies that scale math achievement across K–12 classroomsWhether you're preparing for state testing, redesigning your math curriculum, implementing Tier 1 math instruction, or seeking effective math intervention strategies, this session provides practical, research-informed insights grounded in real classroom results.Who This Is ForThis training is designed for:• K–12 math teachers• Intervention specialists• Instructional coaches• School administrators• District leaders focused on math achievementIf you're serious about improving math instruction and reducing math anxiety while increasing student confidence, this session will challenge your thinking — and give you a clear instructional shift to implement.About JonilyJonily is the host of Saturday Math and founder of Minds on Math. She specializes in helping educators improve math achievement through instructional shifts that prioritize thinking, reasoning, sense-making, and number sense — without sacrificing performance.Ready to Go Deeper?Join our next free math professional development training:https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tcMBm3kYSe29Uk2gXlRwPwBecause improving math instruction starts with one powerful truth:Solving is not learning.🎧 Prefer to Listen On the Go?SpotifyApple PodcastsAmazon/Audible🎙️ Credits: Host: Jonily Zupancic Production: Disability Labs Podcast Network⚠️ Disclaimer: The content shared in this video is for educational purposes only and does not replace your district’s policies or individualized education plans. Always consult with your instructional team before implementing new strategies.

Hosts

Cheri Dotterer

Host of The Writing Glitch: Hack Dysgraphia No Pencil Required

Jonily Zupancic

Host of Podcast Shorts from the Disability Labs Podcast Network