Guide to Developing an Individualized Education Plan
As a parent, you are encouraged to get involved in creating your child’s individualized education plan (IEP). We created the guide below to help you prepare for this process. Feel free to print it and fill it out before meeting with your child’s school team.
Tips on Preparing Your Child to Discuss Their IEP
Your child may not know what an individualized education plan is, or they may have misconceptions. Talk to them about the importance of the IEP meeting. Explain that your family is working with their school in the interest of helping them succeed.
If your child is shy, they may benefit from knowing who will be at the meeting. Telling them in advance will help them feel more at ease.
A student can lose a bit of self-confidence when they learn they need an IEP (whereas their best friend does not, for example). Talk to your child about what they excel at and what they have more trouble with (we all have strengths and weaknesses!), as well as their likes and dislikes when it comes to school, to boost their self-esteem.
Your child may already be aware of some of the things they need help with. Be sure to ask them what they would like to see included in their IEP, such as their strengths, areas for improvement, learning objectives, and relevant members of the school staff.
To reduce any nervousness your child is feeling, we encourage you to be transparent with them about what you plan to say at the meeting.
Remember that this meeting is not about the adults in the room. Let your child know that they should feel free to speak up. Their input is more than likely to make the meeting more productive.
After going through what can be a pretty stressful experience, your child deserves some heartfelt kudos. Tell them how proud you are of their commitment to their studies and their willingness to be involved in important decisions about their education.
