| Now that you have adjusted your attitude and | | | | preschool Special Ed team, we had five |
| underlying assumptions in preparation for the IEP | | | | participants to their five, and I rarely had issues |
| meetings, you are ready to get down to the nitty | | | | with the school district again. |
| gritty. This article suggests strategies and | | | | As well as bringing your support and |
| activities for successful outcomes and a third | | | | documentation team, "dress for success." Wearing |
| article will provide some tools for success. | | | | a dress, suit, or nice slacks not only helps you feel |
| Remember that you do not have to sign the IEP | | | | more confident and better about yourself, it |
| for it to go into effect - you DO have to object | | | | shows the school members of the team that you |
| to it in writing for it not to go into effect. | | | | take this endeavor as seriously as you would |
| Especially if there is a possibility you may have a | | | | take a job or other professional engagement. It is |
| protracted period of either renegotiation or | | | | far easier for school personnel to ignore a parent |
| appeals and formal hearings, as the parent, first | | | | in sloppy sweats with messy hair than one who is |
| and best advocate for your child, it is best to | | | | dressed as professionally (or more professionally) |
| stay organized. | | | | than they are. |
| I give three major pieces of advice to parents | | | | Do your Homework: First, prepare by reading the |
| entering the IEP situation. They are | | | | most recent IEP. Think about what seems to be |
| 1. Pack the room. Be sure you are not alone in | | | | working, what is not, and how your child has |
| the meeting. If possible bring at least two other | | | | changed since it was written. Have any goals been |
| people with you, at least for moral support. It's | | | | accomplished? Have any needs changed? Do you |
| even better if you have a PCA, a tutor, an | | | | know of any new applicable resources? Make lists |
| outside therapist, or a respite provider who | | | | of these, and try to keep related material and |
| knows your child well along. | | | | information together. Even if the resources are |
| 2. Do your homework. Bring with you any | | | | simple and straightforward, such as ergonomic |
| relevant testing, physician notes, or other | | | | tools, list them. |
| materials you have. Ask for paperwork in | | | | Don't assume that the professionals know |
| advance (though don't be surprised if the school | | | | everything. I read a note from another parent in |
| declines to provide it - they are busy and often | | | | an Internet group about ergonomic, "Twist n |
| finish paperwork right before meetings) and don't | | | | Write" pencils. They worked really well for my |
| be afraid to ask that the meeting be postponed | | | | son, increasing his control in writing immensely. So |
| or rescheduled if you feel you are being | | | | far I have shown ours to at least 2 Special |
| pressured to make a decision and need more | | | | Educators and 3 OTs (who you'd think would |
| time to review the paperwork. | | | | already be aware of the things) and none of |
| 3. Know where you are, what has worked | | | | them had seen this tool before. All the OTs |
| before, what has not worked before, and what | | | | announced an intention to go right out after |
| goals you (and your child, if they are over 14) | | | | school and buy some. Kind of makes you wonder |
| have. If you don't know where you have been | | | | what kind of marketing the pencil's manufacturer |
| and where you want to go, you are likely to end | | | | is (or isn't) doing, doesn't it? |
| up somewhere else! | | | | Now that you are aware of some strategies, the |
| Pack the Room: Schools are accustomed to | | | | third article in this series will provide some tools |
| having large numbers of their personnel | | | | you can use to clearly assess your current |
| overwhelming a single parent or at most two, and | | | | position and goals. |
| it keeps them off guard. In one meeting with a | | | | |