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Getting Started
Get Diagnosed
Gathering Important Information
Organizing Your Information
The Educated Parent
Early Intervention
What To Do First
What is Early Intervention?
Research
Introduction
Keeping an IEP Notebook
Preparing for an IEP Meeting
Conducting an IEP Meeting
Individuals With Disabilities Act
IDEA ACT - A Quick Reference
IDEA Legal Text
Family Finances
Recommended Resources
Housing
Introduction to Universal Housing Design
Housing options
Building a New House ~ That Works!
Introduction to Universal Housing Design
Entrances and Thresholds
Single Family Home Resources
Remodeled Bathroom
Ceiling Lifts
Problem Spaces
Adding a Ramp
Good Restroom
Not So Good Restrooms
Great Space Adaptions
Not So Great Adaptations
Ramp Design
Ramp Design (Part 2)
Commercial Ramps
Public Access Ramps
Adding a Ramp
Retrofit Door Sill Ramp
Insurance
Medical Bills
Filing an Appeal
Medical Expenses and Income Taxes
Finding Help for the Uninsured or Underinsured
Free or Discounted Prescription Programs
Medicaid Waivers
Legal Adults - Introduction
Guardianship and Declaration of Incapacitation
Establishing Guardianship and Obtaining a Declaration of Incapacitation
Dependency Determination (Military)
When to Start the Transition Process
Begin Transition - Age 14-16
Exploring Possibilities and Guardianship Issues - Age 17
Age 18
After High School Graduation - Age 19-22
Post High School Education Options
Future Housing Options
Specialized Medical Equipment
Wheelchair Evaluation
Wheelchair Safety
Introduction: Special Needs and the Military Family
DEERS & ID Cards
Dependency Determination
TriCare Introduction
TriCare Program Options
Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP)
Individual Case Management
TriCare Extended Care Health Option (ECHO)
Early Intervention
Housing Options
Family Support Services
Community Contacts
Letters of Medical Sufficiency
Wheelchair Accessible Vans
Van Conversion: A good Example
Fund Raising - The Flamingo Air Project
Utah DSPD Complaint List Winter 2011
 

Conducting an IEP meeting

The parent can choose to conduct this meeting themselves or request the assistance of a special education coordinator provided by the school district. As the parent becomes more experienced, they may find it easier to take over conducting these meetings themselves.

Be sure to take all of your forms and documents, especially letters including physician's instructions, with you.

Take notes as the meeting progresses, keeping track of all concerns and goals addressed on your action forms. If the staff does not know you or your child well, be prepared to allow extensive time for questions and providing explanation regarding your child's unique situation. No two IEP's are alike.

Normally a full IEP is held at the beginning of the school year. This meeting should include all persons involved in providing educational and direct personal care services to your child. This will allow you to set goals, provide for daily care, and begin the education process. It may become necessary as the school year progresses for a parent to call a modified (or smaller) IEP meeting to address specific issues or problems that may need to be addressed. This can happen as often as is needed to resolve any difficulties. A parent should not hesitate in calling one if they feel there is a need.

As each item is addressed and a goal is set, it should be with the full agreement of all individuals involved with that goal. Do not set a goal if there are any unresolved issues regarding that goal. Goals under question may be set with the understanding that the goal will be reviewed early and will be watched for appropriateness. A goal can be discontinued at any time after appropriate review during a modified IEP with all parties being notified.

The parent needs to understand that if there are any questions or disagreements they may have regarding the IEP, they should NOT sign it. Every attempt should be made to resolve any issues before leaving the meeting. If this cannot be accomplished, an immediate request for mediation (see IDEA act section 300.506) should be made. Pull any disputed items out of the main document before signing. Disputed goals should be set aside until mediation can be accomplished. These can be added back in once a resolution has been reached and the goal is modified appropriately.

All items with mutual agreement in the document should be immediately implemented into the child's education program with the disputed goals being set aside until mediation can be accomplished. Again, this needs to be done on a case-by-case basis, as every situation is unique.

Do not let one disputed IEP line item interfere with the rest of your child's educational program!

The main goal is to educate your child in the best atmosphere possible. It is to everyone's benefit to get along.