How to Be An Active Part of Your Child's IEP Team

IEP (Individual Education Plan) Team meetings can be overwhelming and sometimes emotional meetings. Parents often have some very valuable information about their children to share with other other team members but feel intimidated by the process. This article will discuss ways in which parents can become more active parts of their child's IEP Team.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• List of talking points
• Special Education Advocate (if desired)
• Research to support your position

Play an Active Role on Your Child's IEP Team

1. Go into the IEP Team meeting well prepared. Request a draft IEP from the school district prior to the meeting. Review last year's IEP, progress reports and report cards prior to the meeting.

2. Make a list of all of the information that you want to share about your child at the meeting. You can either read from the list at the meeting or make copies of the list for all of the other IEP Team members.

3. Bring documentation, such as outside evaluations or program descriptions, with you to the meeting. If possible try to tie the documentation in to specific items on your list.

4. If you feel more comfortable, ask a friend or hire a special education advocate to speak up for you at the meeting. However, it is important that you attend the meeting.

5. Ask questions at the meeting if you do not understand or do not agree with something that is said by another team member. Ask for additional evaluations or additional people to attend the meeting if you feel that more information is needed.

Tips & Warnings

• Remember that you can request an IEP meeting at any time. You do not need to wait until the next annual review or reevaluation date.
• Stay cordial with other IEP team members and remember that you all have your child's (their student's) best interests at heart.
• If you decide to bring a friend, advocate or attorney with you to an IEP team meeting make sure that they are knowledgeable about your child and about the IEP team process. Also, make sure that the person that you bring is comfortable speaking up at the meeting.