Earlier this month we had JD’s overdue annual IEP. Not a
biggie, tweaking goals, adding a few, changing modifications. It is always a
good feeling when you go into one of these and know you’re changing things
because there has been progress! Plus we have a new service coordinator. I
requested a change and I have only met her once before when we had my daughter’s
IEP in February.
However, I don’t think I’ll ever be able to skip and giggle
on my way to an IEP. I think I’ll always dread them. Uggh, I just get such a
bad feeling even thinking about the meeting. It’s not that I expect to fight
for everything—oh wait yes, yes I do. But I may be biased because of previous
experiences with unnamed service coordinators at unnamed 3-5 service providers.
But I digress.
This is how I get ready for an IEP meeting. I don’t propose that this is the best method or that you should do it. Hell maybe I’m doing it completely wrong. You have to remember I’ve only been doing IEPs since late 2010. My method has evolved from just showing up and saying “well that sounds good, ok then,” to bring in “the binder”. So here goes.
My Binder contains:
- · Questions for the team
- · Printed emails with progress reports from the current team
- · Drafted IEP goals (new/edited revisions to existing goals) in SMART goal format. (Putting that MBA to good use there, LOL).
- · Current IEP with my highlights and notes
- · Private evaluations or progress notes from private therapists or specialists. (To prove my point and get the services we need)
- · Previous IEPs, previous evaluations and diagnosis. (Best to be prepared. You never know when you’ll need to pull something out to say, See you agreed to it right here! Or See this is educationally necessary).
- · Sticky notes, sticky flags, highlighters, whole puncher and paper clips, pencils and a pen.
- · My schedule book
- · My cell phone (for the contact info)
Then I put on what I call my fight face. I used to dress up
in business casual and makeup etc. Now I draw the line at sweatpants. So I
settle for jeans and a clean shirt. Maybe brush my hair before I pull it back.
If I am asking for services that I know I’ll have to fight for, a friend comes
with me or in 2 occasions I brought an advocate with me. When things went from bad to hell, I brought an attorney that we're still paying for.
If you’re new to IEP land, google and facebook are your new
best friend. Our special needs community
is so awesome because we share resources, knowledge and best practices like no
one else. Reach out to your local inter agency council, parent support groups,
and advocacy agencies to get help. Also, most of the major universities have departments that can help. Or if you're in PA- call Parent to Parent PA or Parent Partners (if you are in Philadelphia and deal with Elwyn). There is help available out there, google!
IEPs are a bear and why start from scratch when someone bigger and more bad ass
then you and I has paved the way before us? Good night all!
My best advice to you-- DONT SIGN THE NO REP AT THE MEETING. Ask to get a final copy in the mail/email. That way you can read the entire document before you sign. You are signing a legal document. Do you really want to speed read in 5 minutes? Think about it.
Good luck in your IEP meeting.
Parent to PArent of PA- http://www.parenttoparent.org/
Parent Partners 215 921 7169
Philly Autism http://phillyautism.webs.com/
PICC- http://philadelphiaicc.org/
