Preparing for an IEP Meeting
Tips and Strategies for Advocating for Special Education Services
© Michelle McFarland-McDaniels
Aug 17, 2008
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) guarantees children with disabilities the right to a free appropriate public education (FAPE). Your child’s IEP meeting is your opportunity to ensure that your child’s educational program is designed to effectively meet his or her unique individual needs. Make sure you are thoroughly prepared to effectively advocate for the services, supports, modifications and accommodations your child needs in order to thrive in school. Use the following strategies to prepare for a successful IEP meeting.
Tips for a Successful IEP Meeting
Learn as much as you can about your child’s disability and your child's rights as a disabled person. Ask your child’s pediatrician, neurologist, medical specialists, therapists and other treatment providers questions about your child’s diagnosis, disability, treatment, progress and prognosis. Read books, magazine articles, journal articles and studies about your child’s disability. Watch television programs and read online content about your child’s disability.
Your objective is to acquire develop expert level knowledge about your child’s disability and how your child is impacted by their disability. Learn about your child's rights under IDEA, Section the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Arm yourself with data about your child’s strengths, deficits and needs. Engage in frequent communication with your child’s teachers, therapists and other school service providers. This could be done in meetings, phone calls, emails or a communication log that travels back and forth between home and school.
Observe your child in his or her classroom and school therapy sessions as often as possible. Write down your observations. Be polite, courteous and professional when observing or communicating with school staff. Try not to make school staff uncomfortable. Make it clear to them that you are not conducting surveillance. Emphasize to school staff that you want to learn as much as possible about your child’s performance in school so you can support their efforts to help your child learn effectively.
Invite supportive family members and/or friends to accompany you to your child’s IEP meeting. If you expect your child’s IEP meeting to be contentious, consider taking a special education advocate or an attorney who specializes in special education issues with you to the meeting.
Use Research and Data to Advocate for Special Education Services
Research methodologies, techniques, strategies, practices and resources that could benefit your child. Knowing what you are talking about and being able to articulate a sound rationale for your opinions, recommendations and suggestions garners credibility, authority, respect and influence.
Write a parents’ statement that accurately articulates your child’s strengths, deficits and needs. Include your thoughts about what is working well, as well as what is not working well, in your child’s current educational program. Express your concerns about your child’s educational program, setting and goals. Recommend changes you would like to have implemented. Back your recommendations with data about your child and current research.
Take pre-written goals you would like to have included in your child’s IEP with you to the meeting. Use your research, data and knowledge about your child’s strengths, deficits and needs to help you develop appropriate goals.
Thoroughly Review the Contents of the IEP
Take notes at the IEP meeting. Ask for permission to make an audio recording of the meeting. Your child’s school may allow you to record the meeting on the condition that you provide them with a copy of the recording. If you are granted permission to record the IEP meeting, use a good quality digital tape recorder with a USB connection. Do not be surprised if you are not granted permission to record the IEP meeting.
Read the entire IEP before signing any document that indicates that you agree with its contents. Ask for clarification of any statements or issues you do not fully understand. If school district staff tell you they are pressed for time and need to end the meeting, ask for a photocopy of the IEP and request to schedule another meeting to complete the IEP. Do not feel pressured to sign something you have not read in its entirety, do not understand or are not comfortable with. Take your time when reading your child’s IEP. Highlight words, phrases and statements you wish to have clarified or disagree with.
If you disagree with any aspect of your child’s IEP and school district officials are unwilling to modify the IEP, write a dissent that states your objections. Make your dissent statement clear, accurate, specific, precise and thorough. You may wish to consult with a special education advocate or special education attorney to plan your next steps toward ensuring your child will receive a free appropriate public education.
Being Prepared is the Key to Developing an Effective IEP
Being prepared is the key to successfully developing an effective IEP for your child. Knowing your child's rights, acquiring expert level knowledge about your child's disability and how it impacts your child, using research and data to support your requests for IEP services and thoroughly reviewing the contents of your child's IEP will help you ensure that your child will receive the special education services, supports, modifications and accommodations he or she needs.
