No matter how well prepared you are for the IEP meeting, you might still feel stressed. This is especially true if it is your first meeting, or if you have had negative experiences in the past.
Remember, you are an equal member of the IEP team and your involvement is required. If you followed my 10 Tips to prepare for the IEP meeting, then you are ready to follow these 5 tips during the meeting to be a collaborative team member to get the best IEP for your child.
- Thank the team.
- Start with a positive attitude and thank the team for working with and supporting your child. Let them know that you are here as a collaborative team member to help bring creative solutions to the table that best help your child. This let’s the team know that you are not there to judge or fight them, and that you are a part of the decision making and helps set the tone for a successful meeting.
- Follow Along.
- Bring the draft IEP, the previous IEP, your notes and questions, and the agenda to the meeting. Follow along in the actual IEP document using the agenda as a guide. If a section is skipped or you get lost, stop and ask the team to clarify what section they are in.
- Ask questions.
- If you emailed questions before the meeting, then most of your questions should already be answered, but if they were not, ask them again! The draft may have changed slightly since you got it, so if there are new terms or phrases you don’t understand, ask them to explain. If there is an accommodation, goal, or any other support that doesn’t make sense for your child, ask them to explain it.
- Clarify Services.
- When will your child receive the services the team explained? How will they teach the goal? Where will these services take place?
- Participate in the discussion.
- IEP meetings should not be the teachers reading the IEP at you, telling you how things are. IEP meetings should be a discussion of your child’s strengths, needs, supports, and services that meet their unique needs and prepare them for further education, career, and independent living. The teachers may be the experts in their fields, but you are the expert on your child. Be a part of the discussion by letting the team know if you think the supports and services will meet their needs and what else your child may need to be successful both in and out of school.
- Remember that you are an equal member of the IEP team.
- You can can direct the meeting just as much as anyone else there. If something doesn’t feel right, it is always ok to stop and reconvene. If you do need to stop the meeting, make sure the team knows why, knows what information must be gathered before the team reconvenes, and set a timeline. Remember, stopping the meeting isn’t always a bad thing. Sometimes more information is needed before the best decision can be made for your child.
What other tips and tricks do you have for successful IEP Meetings? What was your best IEP meeting?
Share them in the comments below!
Want more information about IEP Meetings, providing your input, and building collaborative teams? Reach out with any questions you have!