Monthly Archives: December 2011

IEP Meetings-Who Can Parents Bring?

Posted on by
Reply

As the parent (or guardian) of the child you are entitled to bring anyone you wish to the IEP meeting.  I encourage you to bring at least one other person with you.  Many parents bring another family member or close friend.  A lot of information about your child will be discussed and two sets of ears are better than one.  Sometimes what is being discussed is also emotionally charged and/or difficult to hear, which may make it more difficult to remember everything discussed.  Having another person there with you will give you someone to process all the information with. I also suggest that you bring a pen and paper with you to write down questions that come up, things you’d like clarified, important points and your desires for your child’s education.

It may also be helpful to both you and the school district to invite professionals you have hired outside of school to the meeting.  This could include, but is not limited to; a tutor, a coach, a therapist, a caseworker or an advocate.  Including anyone who you feel has important knowledge of your child’s educational needs, deficits and strengths may lead to a more comprehensive IEP and may help the school personnel better understand your child.  Make sure you discuss whether the private provider will charge you for their time at the meeting because it is likely that they will.

If you have any indication that an IEP meeting may be contentious or that you may significantly disagree with the school district I encourage you to contact a local parent advocacy group and ask if there is someone who can attend the meeting with you.  Parent advocates are trained in the special education laws of the state you live in so they can help you negotiate that everything is being handled appropriately and by the book.  If you choose to have an advocate with you, be aware that the school district may view this negatively.

As a courtesy to the school district, it is best to let them know ahead of time if you will be bringing a number of people to the meeting so they can make sure and have a space that will accommodate everyone.  Many schools do not have conference rooms and all participants have to be squeezed into small offices.  Prior notice will assure that valuable meeting time is not taken up with finding chairs or relocating the meeting to another room.

Who have you brought with you to IEP meetings? What has your experience been with bringing support people to IEP meetings with you?

IEP Meetings-What You Need to Know Before You Get There.

Posted on by
Reply

An IEP (Individualized Education Program) meeting for your child, whether it is the first one you’ve attended or not, can be an unsettling experience. Some parents feel intimidated  because you are almost always outnumbered.  A team of school staff is often congregated before you arrive to the meeting.  This group will likely have between 4-10 people in it, with varying degrees of familiarity with you and with your child.  It is a good idea to bring a spouse, family member, friend or advocate with you to the meeting as this will provide another set of ears and a different perspective.

It is important to know that you are an equal member of the decision making team. The document you are given to view at an IEP meeting is a working document.  This mean that what is written down is not final.  You have the right to ask for explanations of the assessments completed, the professional’s opinion as to the validity of the assessment, the manner in which the assessment was given to your child, why the team decided not to assess certain areas and an explanation of what the assessment results mean for you and your child.  You also have the right to question, add or delete goals and objectives.  If you do not feel that the services being offered to your child are adequate you can request the rationale for the determination. 

At the end of the meeting you will be asked to sign the IEP for two reasons.  The first being that you received a copy of your parental rights and the second being that you are in agreement with the document you just discussed.  If you feel uncertain or uncomfortable with any part of the document you may say that you do not wish to sign the document at this time.  An IEP is a legal document between you and the school district and you should feel like your concerns and suggestions were incorporated into the document. 

As you can see the IEP process can be a daunting one.  Don’t be afraid to ask questions, ask for clarification or ask for time to read the document before signing it.  You are signing a contract that will most likely significantly impact your child’s progress in school so make sure you are comfortable with the content and service delivery. 

I’d love to hear about your experiences at IEP meetings.  Have they been good or bad?  What do you wish you had known before getting there?