Education
IEP Help: “When ‘They’ Say…”
By Kathy Everett, Alpharetta, GA
I.E.P.
Those three little letters instill fear in the hearts of many parents who have a child with a disability. Others have no clue what they mean.
In the past 22 years, I have attended hundreds of IEP (Individual Education Program) meetings. Some were for my own daughter, Jennifer. Sometimes, I provided a hand to hold or a friendly face in the crowd for other parents who needed it. The process of creating an IEP can be long and confrontational, short and cooperative — or anything in between. The key is for parents to know what to say when “they” say (fill in the blank).
In my journey, I have learned many things that I share with other parents to help them on their journey. When a school member says something you disagree with for your child, your response is key. Click here for some of the most common comments said at IEP meetings and what you can say to counter them.
