PREPARATION FOR AN IEP

Law Offices of Anne I. Eason, LLC

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These are only suggestions. They are not things you must do.

1. TALK TO YOUR CHILD. Find out how you child feels about school. Find out her/his likes and dislikes. Ask if there is something that she/he would like to do better.

2. MEET WITH YOUR CHILD’S TEACHERS BEFOREHAND for an informal update on your child’s achievements and behavior during the school year.

3. VISIT YOUR CHILD’S CLASSROOM. Make an appointment to observe your child in the classroom.

4. REVIEW YOUR CHILD’S RECORDS. Make an appointment with the school prior to the IEP meeting and review what is contained in your child’s records. Go over your own records at home to make sure they coincide with those kept at school. Request a copy of all records once a year.

5. BEFORE THE IEP MEETING BE SURE YOU UNDERSTAND THE NATURE AND BASIS OF YOUR CHILD’S DISABILITY. Do you have enough information? Have you reviewed the evaluation reports? Do you understand the meaning of the diagnosis? Make sure you understand any “jargon.”

6. BECOME FAMILIAR WITH THE LAWS OF OUR STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PERTAINING TO SPECIAL EDUCATION ISSUES. Find out what services your child is entitled to so that you can request they be provided. Get a free copy of IDEA ’97 and read it. Attend seminars to learn your rights.

7. BRING DOCUMENTATION OF NEED if you are requesting new services.

8. PREPARE TO SHARE WHAT YOU KNOW ABOUT YOUR CHILD. Jot down some notes about your child to bring to meetings such as: interests, hobbies, relationships with family and friends, behavior at home, things she/he does well, and has difficulty with.

9. PREPARE YOUR OWN QUESTIONS. Ask for a blank copy of the IEP form showing the components and prepare questions you would like to discuss at the meeting. Bring the list with you. Prepare your own agenda.

10. FIND OUT WHO WILL BE ATTENDING THE MEETING. Call the school and ask who will be participating at the meeting, if the notification has not included this information. Is there anyone not present from school or outside of school whom you would like to invite? Notify the school if you intend to bring someone from outside of school (Friend, relative, advocate, outside evaluator, etc.). It should be someone who has knowledge of your child and her/his needs. Knowledge of special education services is also helpful. Tape the IEP meeting.

11. BE PREPARED TO DISCUSS EXPECTATIONS FOR YOUR CHILD. Jot down what you think your child needs and the extent of progress you would like to see during the year. You should consider your child’s vocational and pre-vocational needs. This applies to children of all ages.

12. BRING ANY RECENT EVALUATIONS OR REPORTS DONE OUTSIDE THE SCHOOL that you think will be of value.

13. BRING SAMPLES OF YOUR CHILD’S WORK FROM ACTIVITIES DONE IN OR OUT OF SCHOOL, which you feel say something about your child. These could be school samples as well as schoolwork

14. TALK TO OTHER PARENTS. Talk to others you know who have attended IEP meetings to learn from their experiences. Attend support groups and informational meetings and seminars.

15. THINK ABOUT WHETHER YOUR CHILD SHOULD BE INVOLVED AT THE IEP MEETING and discuss this with school personnel. Ask your child if he/she would like to attend.

16. KEEP A FILE OF All YOUR COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE SCHOOL, written or spoken.

17. CONSIDER FULL INCLUSION. The law says the to the maximum extent appropriate, children with disabilities shall be educated in their neighborhood schools and attend regular classes (with supplemental aids and services). Identify full inclusion opportunities and what supports will be needed for success. IT’S NEVER TOO LATE TO START!

Liberally adapted from: SPEAK-OUT; CT PARENT ADVOCACY NEWSLETTER 5/89