Navigating an IEP with your child

IEPs are vital for children with disabilities or special educational needs to ensure they won’t fall behind. It is equally as important that, as a parent, you are involved in the IEP process as you are your child’s biggest advocate.

At The Halliday Center we offer professional guidance for navigating the IEP process.

What Is an Individualized Education Program (IEP)?

The American Psychological Association (APA) defines an IEP as “a plan describing the individualized education and related services specifically designed to meet the unique educational needs of a student with a disability.”

It was created under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) which hopes to provide all students with equal and fair educational opportunities through individualized learning plans. An IEP ensures children with disabilities can prioritize and optimize their educational potential.

Source: APA, IDEA

Understanding the Individualized Education Program (IEP)

When you begin the IEP process with your child, the best way to understand the process is to seek guidance from professional counselors, teachers, or parents who have undergone the IEP process.

However, if you’re not at the step yet, we put together a brief overview of the process so you can walk into those conversations with an informed perspective.

Components of an IEP

The process of getting an IEP for your child begins with identifying and determining eligibility. The school and your child’s teachers will attempt to identify at-risk children, but you can also request an evaluation. The determination process for eligibility is done with input from you (the child’s parents) and professionals.

The next step involves writing the IEP during a meeting in which the child and parents are both present. During the meeting, the parents provide consent to any special education or services being offered to their child.

The IEP itself will include information about the child’s current education performance, goals, and the services they’ll be offered to optimize their education.

After the IEP is created, it is implemented, and the child’s progress is evaluated and reported. Annually, the IEP should be reviewed, and the child should be reevaluated every three years, if not more often.

Source: U.S. Department of Education

Purpose and Benefits of an IEP

Having a personalized plan for your child with special needs is incredibly important to ensure they have an equal opportunity to succeed at school. Learning in a traditional classroom may be easy for some students, and it’s only fair to require learning to be accessible for all students.

As previously mentioned, the purpose of an IEP is to support children with disabilities, so it’s important to identify what may make your child eligible. This is not an exhaustive list, but some conditions include:

• Learning disabilities (i.e dyslexia)
• ADHD
• Autism
• Developmental delays
• Physical disabilities
• Hearing or vision impairment
• Speech and language problems

There are many advantages to having an IEP, such as:

• Access to support services that will provide accommodations or modifications for your child’s success.
• Inclusion. By staying congruent with their peers, children with IEPs are still able to access the same opportunities.
• Advocacy. With an IEP, your child learns what their needs and rights are, as do you as a parent.
• Clear goals. A crucial step of an IEP is creating goals that your child can work towards, giving them an academic purpose.

Source: KidsHealth

Roles and Responsibilities within the IEP Team

If your child needs an IEP, they’ll also have an IEP team. This team includes:

• You (the parents),
• Teachers, including their “regular” teachers and special education teachers,
• Therapists and/or psychologists,
• Specialists based on the disability who already know the child,
• A representative from the school district,
• And the student, if the scenario is appropriate. Sometimes, if the child is too young, they can be excluded.

Everyone on this team must advocate for the student’s needs, both personal and academic. The team must comprise mainly of people who know about the child’s strengths and weaknesses and can offer insight into how the child operates and learns.

It’s important for individuals on the team to know what services the school can offer, thus making practical movements towards helping the child reach their full potential and goals.

Learn more about how The Halliday Center experts can enhance your child’s IEP team.

Source: U.S. Department of Education

Key Components of an IEP

Before going into an IEP meeting for your child, being informed about the process will ensure you’re prepared to answer questions about your child. Talking with experienced and knowledgeable professionals or parents is a great way to know what to expect. Some counseling centers offer specific IEP services to help you out.

An IEP requires specific information, including:

• Current academic performance, including their test results and observations from teachers. This helps define the child’s current strengths and weaknesses.
• Annual goals, with short-term benchmark goals.
• Accommodations and modifications the child will receive in class and on state-testing.
• Transition services, once the child is old enough to consider postgraduate education, the IEP should address it.
• Monitoring of progress, including how it is done and how parents will be informed.

Source: U.S. Department of Education

Implementing Services and Accommodations

Once the IEP is created, adequate services and accommodations for your child will be provided. This process is done under the guise of teachers, consultants, and educational specialists. As a parent, it’s your job to advocate for your child and their educational needs, making sure they are receiving everything that was discussed and written into the IEP.

If you are looking for advice on how to be a good advocate, talking with other parents might help. It is important to talk with your student’s teachers to understand exactly how the service will be implemented to help your child.

Understanding Available Resources

Before you sit down at the IEP meeting, identify the resources both inside and outside of your child’s school district.

In the school district, there should be a variety of educational services and supports offered, including special education teachers or specialists and class accommodations.

Outside of school, there may be community programs, assistive technology, or counseling services that can help the student. These outside resources also help advocate for your student in their academics.

Advocating for Appropriate Accommodations

Knowing what resources are available is important to request certain accommodations that optimize your child’s educational access.

Inquire the school regarding all the offered services, even if they don’t necessarily seem to pertain to your child’s needs. You should also talk with your child’s counselor, therapist, psychologist, or doctor to understand your child’s needs. IEP services at The Halliday Center help you do just that.

You should trust that you know your child’s strengths and weaknesses better than anyone else, giving you the power to negotiate modifications to the services offered.

You might like: Validating Your Teen: Reasons Why You Should

Monitoring Progress and Reviewing the IEP

The final step of IEP is continuous progress and review. For some children with special educational needs, the IEP process isn’t over until they graduate. But, for others, an IEP may not be necessary as they progress in school.

No matter what scenario your child’s needs fit, the IEP should be annually reviewed and adjusted based on the observed progress. Talking with teachers, other parents, and IEP process experts will help you better understand how children are monitored and what the review process is like.

Tracking Your Child’s Progress

Academic specialists, teachers, therapists, and you can help monitor your child in several different aspects, including:

• Academic performance, noting if they are reaching the goals listed in the IEP.
• Social-emotional development among peers and adults.
• Behavioral changes that may be negatively or positively correlated with the IEP.

Track and document any changes or improvements in your child for IEP reviews, whether in school, therapy, or community activities.

Participating in IEP Reviews

It’s required that every IEP is reviewed and adapted annually. This is done through meetings with your child’s IEP team, which you are an essential part of.

By attending these meetings, you’ll hear from your child’s other academic and social resources, helping evaluate the effectiveness of current strategies and make necessary adjustments. You can bring in your counselors or therapists to help you with the IEP process.

Find trusted experts through our IEP services.

Ready to secure the best educational support for your child?

Advocating for your child’s educational needs is crucial if they struggle in school. Learn about the IEP process, initiate it when necessary, and actively participate in developing and reviewing your child’s IEP.

Contact our IEP professionals at The Halliday Center today.

FAQs

What is an IEP?

An IEP is an Individualized Education Program, which outlines a personalized learning plan for any child with special needs. This plan identifies current strengths and weaknesses, outlines future goals, and provides students with the necessary support systems and accommodations.

As a parent, what role do I play in the IEP process?

Parents play a huge role in the IEP process, as they are part of the IEP team. You know your child very well, and can best advocate for their educational needs while also supplying the team with more information about how they act at home.

Does my child qualify for an IEP?

It depends! There are many different types of disabilities or special needs that may warrant an IEP, including learning disabilities, ADHD, autism, physical impairments or disabilities, and developmental delays. If you believe your child is struggling in school and would benefit from an IEP, contact your school or school district to learn more about their eligibility requirements.