Tips for a Successful IEP Meeting

5 Tips for a Successful IEP Meeting

One mom shares what she does in Individualized Education Program meetings to help them run smoothly.

By Dana Greenberg

Those of us who’ve been through it before are very aware how stressful and unpredictable IEP meetings can be. IEP stands for Individualized Education Program, which is the plan created for every child eligible for special-needs services from their public school specifying how the school will meet their specific educational needs. IEP meetings are the yearly get-together at which parents gather with a team of professionals from the school district to discuss their child’s needs for the upcoming school year and develop our child’s plan for the year. We parents know what our children need better than anyone, but, unfortunately, we are not always heard. Here are some of the things I do at my meeting to help ensure that it is a success.

SHOW A PICTURE OF YOUR CHILD.

One of the first things I do is hold up a picture of my son and introduce him. Usually there are people at the meeting who have never met him. I would like them to all see the boy we are talking about, to put a face with his name and his needs.

TAKE GOOD NOTES.

Ask the professionals to slow down if you need them to. Let them know you don’t want to miss anything. I usually bring a notebook to write in. Be sure to ask who everyone is and what their titles are. Before you leave, ask for a copy of the minutes (that someone should have been taking). You can compare the minutes to your notes to make sure you’re all on the same page.

NEVER SIGN ANYTHING— EXCEPT THE ATTENDANCE SHEET.

This is definitely something to remember. If they ask you to sign something else, tell them you want to review it at home; you are allowed to say this. Before you leave the meeting, ask them to give you a copy of the attendance sheet as well.

DON’T LET THEM RUSH YOU.

If these meetings are still new to you, you may hear words and terms that are not completely familiar to you. Feel free to ask them to explain everything. That is their job. Remind them, if necessary, that this is your child who is being discussed, not an abstract idea. If time runs out and you feel like you need more time, you can ask for an additional meeting to continue the discussion.

DISCUSS PLACEMENTS.

If you have already visited potential schools, let them know. Give them details as to what you saw and why it would not work for your child. Let them know that you have been proactive about the situation. Ask them to discuss their ideas about possible placements for your child. Remember, nothing is set in stone at this time, but this is something that should be discussed.

These are some of the things I always do at my son’s IEP meeting, I hope they may help guide you to a smoother, more successful IEP meeting of your own.

Dana Greenberg is a mom of twins living in Manhattan. Her site, TheAutismClub.com, was created to connect moms who have kids with special needs, like her son Jack—who has autism—and offer them a space to tell their stories. This article was originally published in 2017.

Helping Your Child Succeed in the Classroom

Good parent-teacher communication is crucial for any successful school year but being on the same page becomes even more important when your child has a learning disability. There are a few steps you can take to help ensure your child has the best year possible.

Know your rights and speak up. Parents are entitled to receive information about special education from their schools and teachers—reading up and staying informed is the best way to advocate for your kid. When attending Committee for Special Education meetings, annual review meetings, or parent-teacher conferences, if you don’t understand something, ask questions.

Communicate with teachers frequently. Kathy Devine and Emily Cole, teachers at Waverly Avenue Elementary School in Holtsville, say parents of students with special needs must be extra communicative with teachers. “We would like to know sooner when things might be happening at home, whether it’s medication changes or maybe something in the home life has changed,” Cole says. When it comes to homework, “reach out to us as soon as possible so that we’re not waiting until the end of a trimester to know [kids are] struggling,” Devine says. Another tip? Write a letter describing your child and their needs at the beginning of the year (you can still do this now, as it will help your child’s teacher get to know them better).

Understand Individualized Education Plan goals. Equally important is understanding your child’s IEP goals—which can differ from their classroom goals. This difference often confuses parents who see their student accomplishing goals on one end of the spectrum and not the other.

Involve your child. Cassie Reilly, transition coordinator at Northport High School, suggests involving your kid in IEP and parent-teacher conferences. Being open with kids from the time of diagnosis helps them stand up for themselves and understand their learning disability does not make them inferior to others.

Be sensitive to difference. Parents should understand their kids might be different at home than at school, Reilly adds. And, even more importantly, their kids might have an atypical path toward success. Communicating with teachers is key to understanding how your kid can progress. — Jacqueline Neber