IEP Meeting Conversation Stoppers

From the National Center for Learning Disabilities by Candace Cortiella, Director, The Advocacy Institute

Some of the statements made to parents at IEP meetings are “conversation stoppers”—comments that create barriers and can prevent the IEP team from working cooperatively to develop effective special education services and supports for students with disabilities.

Here are nine common “conversation stoppers,” some information about what may be the real issues of concern and suggestions for how parents can respond in a forceful but respectful way so that planning for their child can move forward.

Stopper #1: “The General Education Teacher Could Not Be Here Today.”

What is the issue?

The vast majority of children with disabilities spend most or all of their school day in general education activities or classrooms. It is essential that the general education teacher be an active IEP team member. This does not mean that parents should expect teachers to leave their classrooms for long periods of time. However, it is reasonable to expect the general education teacher to attend IEP meetings to contribute expertise in setting academic, behavorial and social goals, to advise the team about curriculum and help identify where and when adaptations and accommodation will be needed so that your child can be successful in the general classroom and have meaningful access to the general education curriculum.

Here are possible responses

“Nina is one of Miss Taylor’s students and we think she is doing very well. However, I have no idea if the goals, accommodation and other supports we are suggesting are going to be helpful to Miss Taylor in adapting the curriculum and classroom activities so Nina can be successful. We need to schedule another IEP meeting so that Miss Taylor can attend for at least part of the time.”

“This is the first year my child has been spending a lot of time in a general classroom. I do not want to have IEP meetings without my child’s general education teacher. We can complete the main parts of the IEP and give a draft to Mr. Jones. But then we will need to schedule another IEP Meeting that includes him so that our team is complete.”

Stopper #2: “Your Child Can’t Participate In Academic Classes If He Can’t Pass the State Assessments.”

What are the issues?

Both the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA 2004) and the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) encourage schools to have high expectations for all students and require schools to provide equal opportunities for students to receive academic instruction. Students with disabilities have a right to have meaningful access to the general curriculum. Parents and IEP teams should work with general education teachers to identify those areas of the curriculum that can and should be incorporated into the student’s IEP and then provide modifications and accommodations through special education services.

Read more HERE.

School, Behaviors, and What Happens When Things Fall Apart

From AS Parenting (Autism Speaks - Parenting)

Daniel is in 3rd grade now. Did you guys know? This blog was started in 2008 so you guys have known us for nearly all of his school career. Both boys are definitely getting older as am I. We are all learning things about ourselves, where we live, where we work and where we play.

As an 8 year old, Daniel has learned a great deal of things, but some of them are not great things. They are things a lot of kids pick up. The difference is that Daniel is Autistic and has two separate aids with him rotating throughout the day. Every thing he does is recorded and told to us.

So what’s this all about? Next week we have an IEP meeting. We have a crew coming for our side and the school has their own crew. I hope they remember that we’re going to need more than the small conference room off the front office.

We’ve called this IEP meeting because Daniel has increased a variety of behaviors and has some that have re-emerged. They are occurring in frequency too. I’ve asked for the behavior data (which I haven’t received yet, but know a semester’s worth of behavior sheets are not going to be easy to copy). I’ve asked that the behaviorist to be there.

Read more HERE.