Parent Advisory Committee - Washtenaw Intermediate School District

HELPFUL HINTS:MAKING THE MOST OF THE IEP PROCESSAppendix ABefore the IEPT Meeting:• Obtain as much information as you can before the IEPT meeting. Talk with your student’s teacher and the peoplewho evaluated your student. Read their reports in advance, review the last IEP, and read your student’s records.• If possible, meet with your student’s teacher and observe your student in his/her current program.• Call the special education office for the location of specific programs under consideration for your student. Visit anyproposed programs before the IEPT meeting is held.• If your student has received services from another agency, collect as much information as you can and share it withthe school. This could include any activities your student participates in outside of school.• If possible, both parents should plan to attend the IEPT meeting. You may also want to bring someone else with you(child-care provider, family member, advocate, professional etc.).• Familiarize yourself with terminology used in IEPT meetings. Review the glossary in this handbook. If you do notunderstand a term used, ask to have it explained.• Review the goals from the previous year’s IEPT report. Have goals been met? Are the goals chosen last year stillimportant, or have other needs become more important?• Write down your questions and concerns to take to the meeting. You may need a reminder of some of the issues asthe meeting progresses.• Make a list of suggestions that you might like to see written into your student’s IEPT report.• Think of some of the skills that your student will need to learn in the coming year or that you would like to seeaddressed by the IEP Team.• If you believe that your student is ready to attend his/her IEP, make sure that s/he is invited! Discuss the IEP processwith your student. Help him/her to think about the skills that s/he would like to work on during the coming schoolyear.• Consider taking a tape recorder. This may especially be a good idea if both parents, or other concerned adult,cannot attend the meeting. Be aware that some IEPT participants may be uncomfortable about being taped,however, and some may have negative feelings about it.• Ask what ancillary services are available and appropriate for your child, i.e. Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy,etc. If appropriate, ask for an Assistive Technology assessment to determine what assistive technology services ordevices may help your student learn.• Remember, if you need help, call your Parent Advisory Committee (PAC) representative (see page 43).During the IEPT Meeting:• Know that you can participate fully in the meeting, sharing your opinions and ideas about the educational needs andprograms for your student. Remember that you are an important member of your student’s team. You knowyour child the best. You spend more time with your child than anyone else at the meeting. And, you are an experton your child!• Share your student’s strengths and interests.• Ask for an explanation of any terms that are new to you.• Ask about the advantages and disadvantages of various programs or classes proposed. Ask for the reasoning behinda suggestion if you don’t understand it.• List the ancillary services and supports your student needs in writing on the IEPT report (a possible list ofaccommodations may be found in Appendix B). This can also include the need for regular (weekly, monthly,quarterly) team meetings to discuss your student’s progress. Make sure that the team discusses whether yourstudent needs extended school year (ESY) services, and document this on the IEPT report. Remember, the IEP is alegal contract between you and the local educational agency.16