IEP (Individual Education Plan) meetings give parents of special education students the opportunity to interact with the school administrators, teachers, and therapists who set specific objectives and goals for these children to reach. Children who are newly diagnosed as having special needs are able to receive classroom accommodations, speech, physical, or occupational therapies, and homework modifications once an initial IEP meeting has taken place. Parents who are unfamiliar with this procedure may wonder what their role on the IEP team entails, therefore certain tips and guidelines for an introductory meeting are beneficial to keep in mind.
IEP meetings must be scheduled at a minimum of once per year, though they sometimes occur on a more frequent basis. Parents have input as to when and where the meeting is to be held, and a formal invite is sent prior to the date of the IEP conference. When preparing for first and subsequent meetings with other special education team members, parents are informed in advance as to which specific people will be in attendance. Teachers provide a draft of the child's IEP, and parents share additional information or concerns about the child's individual academic, social, and behavioral needs.
These IEP tips are useful for parents who are new to the special education procedures of the school system, and they can also be reviewed each time an IEP meeting is scheduled. Because some school districts are less accommodating than others, parents may need to seek representation from a child's rights advocate in order to ensure that the IEP process is productive.
--If the child has undergone any private medical or psychological evaluations, parents should bring copies of the test results to the IEP meeting. This will give school district officials information to work with in addition to the school psychologist's evaluation report.
--Parents should feel free to write down any personal concerns, comments, or information about how their child's disabilities may affect school performance. The IEP team should also be aware of how the child responds to tasks outside of the school environment, such as homework assignments. Modifications and additions to the draft IEP can then be made accordingly.
--The IEP itself is a rather lengthy document, and the wording can be confusing to parents who are new to the process. Before the meeting takes place, parents can prepare by studying a copy of the district's standard IEP form and familiarizing themselves with the various sections of the document.
--One of the most effective IEP tips is for parents to approach the meeting with a positive and cordial attitude. While IEP meetings can be difficult for parents, as the child's deficits are discussed at length, it is important to remember that the finalized IEP is intended to serve the child's best educational and social interests.