If your child has a disability or needs services at school, he or she should be eligible for an IEP. An IEP allows your child to receive special education services. A federal law called the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires that public schools create an IEP for every child receiving special education services. Kids from age 3 through high school graduation or a maximum age of 22 (whichever comes first) may be eligible for an IEP.
To create an effective IEP, parents, teachers, other school staff—and often the student—must come together to look closely at the student’s unique needs. These individuals pool knowledge, experience, and commitment to design an educational program that will help the student be involved in, and progress in, the general curriculum. The IEP guides the delivery of special education supports and services for the student with a disability. Without a doubt, writing—and implementing—an effective IEP requires teamwork.
Under IDEA Part D, the United States Department of Education funds at least one parent training and information center in each state and most territories to provide parents the information they need to advocate effectively for their child. Make sure you know where your information center is and attend their sessions. You can find yours here.   Some centers may also provide a knowledgeable person to accompany a parent to IEP meetings to assist the parent in the process. Each state, and sometimes even each school district has some differences. Make sure you know yours.
What I have experienced, is even though a child may have certain needs most schools try to guide the IEP to services they know they have or can afford – which is not legal but does happen. For example, my son needed occupational therapy due to his sensory issues, yet the school continued to say he only needed one hour per month. My son has Trichotillomania; he pulls his hair when he is stressed or concentrating – clearly a sensory issue yet school thought it was appropriate to help him only one hour per month. Another example would be where the school told me that just because Robbie had been diagnosed by a doctor with High functioning autism, that did not necessarily mean he would qualify for autism services at school. I got up and left the meeting.
What can you do? You need to stay educated. Understand the rules of your state and your school district. You need to stand up for your child’s rights. You need to build and then rely on your team -pediatrician, therapists, psychologists, any other doctors or nurses. After the autism IEP meeting, I brought along my son’s therapist who has worked with Robbie for 7 years and the doctor that diagnosed his autism. I also brought in letters from his pediatrician and his neurologist. I told the school they were all coming and they told me before the meeting they would be changing Robbie’s IEP to include autism. At the meeting they talked about all the services he now would qualify for. It took a lot of time, it took a lot of people but we finally were able to get services Robbie needed. Don’t give up and if you are not getting what you need, reach out to Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund.

If you want to learn more get my e-book How to Ace Your Child’s IEP Meeting here.

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