March 2024 Special Needs Living Magazine

The ABC's of IEPs! Annual IEP Meetings!

BY REBECCA MCCLARY

THE END OF YEAR chaos is on our heels and the IEP session will be here before you know it. Most IEPs are due for re-evaluation come spring (see your child’s IEP for individualized date). This is a great time to discuss any concerns and plans for the upcoming year. Let’s take a look at ways you can prepare for your child’s annual IEP team meeting.

Once you have a scheduled meeting, make sure everyone you want in attendance is planning to attend. It may be necessary to bring your child’s counselor or outside (private) therapist. If you are working with a parent advocate, give them as much notice as possible so you have ample time to discuss changes or questions about the IEP. When preparing for the meeting, remember YOU ARE PART OF THE TEAM! This is a great time to review your child’s most recent IEP progress report and generate questions or new goal ideas. If your child is struggling with a goal, think about ways to change the current goal.

If your child has mastered a goal, come up with ideas for a new goal in that category.

For goals that your child is on track with, make sure you have a clear understanding of any obstacles that are holding them back from further progression. I know these meetings can be intimidating and hard to follow, but think of it as an opportunity to get a clear picture of your child’s goals. The more you know, the more you can advocate for your child. Another key component of this annual meeting is to discuss eligibility of ESY services (extended school year). ESY services can be challenging to get approved. Students have to meet certain criteria to continue their IEP services throughout the summer break. The biggest component of ESY eligibility is documented proof of regression in learning after a break. I went into more detail about this in a previous article as well. This is a prime example of why I consistently recommend: document, document, document … data, data, data!

Another HUGE discussion at annual IEP meetings is transitions. If your child is transitioning to a new building or going from a single teacher to multiple teachers the following year, you want to make sure there is a documented plan for transition. Some ideas may include: meeting teachers one-on-one before the start of school, having extra time to walk through a schedule, being able to practice a locker combination, and touring the lunchroom, playground or music room. Generate a list of places or events that may trigger your child’s disability and make a plan to help calm those reactions before they ever happen. Another suggestion is to ask your child’s current teacher(s) if there are any helpful accommodations they have been providing but aren’t listed on the current plan. Some teachers are just amazing and find things that work well for our kids. But if these accommodations are not listed on the IEP, they may go unused the following year by a new teacher.

Lastly, don’t forget to breathe. After you write a list of questions/ suggestions, put a reminder to yourself to breathe. Talk slowly. Take time to take notes. No question is a stupid question. Don’t be afraid to tell the team you need some time to think about the plan. You know your child best … better than anyone else.

You’ve got this!