Excerpt from: Special Education News (click for full article)
Some parents going through the IEP process may feel a little lost or unsure of how to be effective advocates for their child. According to Sue Lind, a special education advocate for many years with my local ARC, top tips for parents participating in the IEP process are:
- Know who will be attending the IEP meeting. Many parents,
especially in their first IEP, will feel blindsided or intimidated if
they walk into a room full of people, many of whom they do not know.
- Bring a support person with you to the meeting, especially if
the room is filled with people from the school system. Your support
person will help level the playing field, make sure you do not become
too stressed, make you take a break if needed, and help ensure you get
what you want out of the meeting.
- Know your rights. The school will issue a copy of IDEA to you, but if you have any questions, call a special education advocate. Understand that if there is an issue with a particular person, such as a teacher or social worker who has been difficult to work with, don’t allow them to attend the meeting. You may offer to meet with them separately.
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