The Individualized Education Plan (IEP) process is something that is heavily discussed with my clients. I want to make sure they are as prepared as possible when they walk into this meeting with their child's school team. 

Every parent should be educated on this process to be able to advocate for their child's needs.

I want you to feel confident going into this meeting and contributing to the conversation. 

You are just as important as any other team member, if not the most important team member. 

 Whether you're new to the special education process in the public school system or you've been at it a while, it can be an overwhelming and confusing process. 

Let's take some of that overwhelm away by making sure you know how to best contribute to the IEP meeting...

1

 Understand the role you are meant to play in this meeting. You play a big role. No one knows a child like a parent. No one has goals like a parent. I want you to be a strong contributor at this table. No title is bigger or more important than mom or dad. 

2

Know that everyone is at this table for the same reason. Everyone at the table wants your child to succeed and make progress.

Coming from someone who sat on the opposite side of the table as you do, I want you to know that it’s not a you vs. them situation.

Team school and team parent doesn't exist. Everyone is on the same team. 

3

Make sure you are prepared to make a statement for the "Parent Input" or "Parent Concerns" part of the IEP. The team member leading the meeting might ask "what are your concerns?" or "what are your goals for your child?" or maybe something like "do you have any input you would like to say at this time?"

Whatever you respond with to one of those questions is what the team member is going to list on the "Parent Input" section of the IEP. 

When you are asked to contribute at this time, make sure you are prepared to tell the team your child's strengths, weaknesses, motivators, triggers, your goals, your concerns, and what has worked in the past. This is your time to shine. Anything and everything that you mention should be typed up and on the IEP document when you receive it later to sign. 

If there is something missing on the document that you discussed during the meeting, contact the team member to make sure your input is added. 

This is a time when you can prioritize your child’s needs to others who are also there to help your child. This is a time to request that these areas of concerns be addressed over the next 12 months.

I would also encourage you to give examples of the concerns you bring up to help the committee see what you’re seeing. I want you to use this opportunity to be really specific about what you envision your child needing to work on and gain over the next year. 

4

Ask for an agenda at the beginning of the meeting. Agendas seem to ease everyone's mind. 

I talk a lot about your child not liking surprises and prefers to be prepared. You might be that way too, especially in a new situation.

Most schools do give an agenda to the parents at the beginning of the meeting, but if they don’t, just ask!

This also helps you prepare to contribute. If you don’t know when goals are going to be talked about, you might start talking about them at the beginning just to be told that “they’ll get to that later.” Agendas seem to be really helpful resource for everyone. 

5

I talked about this during the parent input statement but I was to stress the importance of knowing and being really familiar with your child's strengths, weaknesses, motivators and triggers. 

This is going to help you really contribute to the conversation and give others an idea of who your child is, what works, and what they should avoid.

When I was a teacher and a parent filled me in on that information, I was always so grateful. 

6

Get comfortable offering solutions. You have used certain strategies with your child, whether it’s for behavior or skill development. You know what they respond to best.

Start telling the others at this table what works best and what you’ve had success with. I LOVED when parents would offer solutions that they've had success with in the past.

The people around the table want to know what’s working so they can implement that, too.  And when it’s said at the IEP table, they should be putting it on the IEP document, which means that everyone working with your child over the next 12 months will see those strategies, too. This is a meeting about your child’s needs and how to best meet those needs. We need to have solutions, not problems swept under the rug. 

7

If you are told “no” or “we don’t offer that here” or “we don’t do that here” ask what the other solutions are. You are bringing up a concern with them at the table because you want a solution and an action plan to help your child with whatever the concern is, not to be told “no” and not have the issue addressed. 

 There is a solution to every problem. It's the team's responsibility to put their heads together to create that solution.

If the solution that you are requesting isn't able to be done, that's okay as long as they have another plan to address the concern.

The IEP process can add another layer of stress to your situation. But that's not the intention. 

Follow these steps to make sure you are prepared, comfortable and confident to contribute to the IEP meeting.