So your child needs an IEP….
Parents Can Help!
Now what?
Navigating the waters of special education can be a daunting task, but
the good news is that there are many resources and supports already in place
for you. Whether you are new to
the IEP process or you are a seasoned veteran there are some important facts to
keep in mind:
Parents can also empower their child with the concept of self-determination. They can teach their child about their disability early in life, talk at ease about obstacles that they may meet and need to overcome, and learning along with the child about their needs and strengths. Essentially, parents need to make sure their child knows how important they are and how much they contribute to their family, school, and IEP process (Van Dyke et al., 2006).
- You are your child's greatest advocate
- Understand your rights as a parent
- Prepare for the IEP meeting and read the proposed IEP goals
- Seek support from peers or a professional advocate if needed
- Be a collaborative member of the IEP team and carefully review proposed goals and benchmarks to ensure they are SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and timely)
Parents can also empower their child with the concept of self-determination. They can teach their child about their disability early in life, talk at ease about obstacles that they may meet and need to overcome, and learning along with the child about their needs and strengths. Essentially, parents need to make sure their child knows how important they are and how much they contribute to their family, school, and IEP process (Van Dyke et al., 2006).
The LiveBinder embedded below offers links to websites that are especially useful to parents of students going throught he IEP process. Click on the icon's title to open the resources.