Tips for a Successful IEP Meeting Essential Information for Parents Laraine Domenico Coordinator, Contra Costa SELPA

Deborah Penry Chair, Community Advisory Committee, Contra Costa SELPA

Contra Costa SELPA CAC January 12, 2016 (East County) March 9, 2016 (Central County)

Outline This presentation is about the IEP meeting process.

• The importance of relationships • Before the IEP meeting – tips for preparing • During the IEP meeting – tips for sharing your perspectives • Misunderstandings and stressors – tips for coping/redirecting

The IEP process is a team process. Team: a group of people forming one side in a competitive game or sport. A group of people with a full set of complementary skills required to complete a task, job or project.

Conflict

Your relationships with other team members are important. You and your student may work with Teacher and service providers

1 year or more

School administrators and staff

3- 6 years or more

District administrators and staff

13 - 21 years

Tip #1: Do what you can to preserve working relationships. Tip #2: See tip #1.

How to foster & preserve working relationships?

Parents & student

Teachers & service providers

Administrators

The value of “do-overs”. Everyone has a bad day sometimes.

Preparing for an IEP meeting 1. Identify and clarify your expectations for the meeting 2. Prepare to be an active participant in discussions

Preparing for an IEP meeting: Your expectations Written assignments 1. Write a short (one sentence) statement about what you see as the purpose for the meeting. 2. Write down topics that you want to have addressed at the meeting.

3. Write statements about what you would like as the outcome(s) of the meeting

Share with education case manager.

Preparing for an IEP meeting: Prepare to be an active participant in discussions 1. Request copies of all progress reports, assessments, etc. to be provided before the meeting so that you have time to review them.

2. Written assignment: Prepare to share your perspectives on your student’s needs.

Assessed Needs determine services: Write statements of your student’s needs AND provide supporting evidence.

Preparing for an IEP meeting: Prepare to be an active participant in discussions

Assessed Needs determine services Tools to help you summarize your student’s needs and provide evidence to support those needs Tools to Help You Advocate…Express Your Views

HANDOUT . “Issue, Position, Interest” approach

During an IEP meeting 1. Use the agenda and your statements of meeting purpose, desired outcomes and topics to be discussed to help keep meeting on track.

2. Use the “Issue, Position, Interest” approach to support your perspective and ensure your participation and that your input is heard and discussed. 3. Request explanation of anything you don’t understand. (e.g. acronyms or educational jargon). 4. Ask questions about anything you don’t don’t agree with. Question assumptions and positions of others.

Some positive questioning strategies: “Can you give me an example of what you are talking about…?” “Why do you think that…?” “What would that look like…?” “What would you suggest…?”

During an IEP meeting Be mindful of fostering relationships Acknowledge ways that team members have helped your student.

Respect others’ rights to express their opinions and to disagree with you. Respect time constraints and try to keep the meeting focused on the agenda.

At the end of an IEP meeting Take care of business 1.Make sure that all services, supports, accommodations and modifications are written into FAPE or notes in the IEP document. 2.You may request a copy of the complete IEP to take home and read through before signing. 3.You may sign in agreement with only specific parts of the IEP if there are still points that need to be discussed further.

At the end of an IEP meeting Take care of relationships 1. Acknowledge the team and thank them for their efforts. 2. Keep communication open. • Acknowledge any issues that are unresolved and indicate your willingness to continue to work as a team to resolve them. • Reiterate how you will follow up and with whom.

Avoiding misunderstandings and coping with stressors. Handout: “Barriers to Collaborative IEP Teams” and “Addressing Parent Stressors at IEP Meetings”

Summary 1. Relationships are key. It is important to foster working relationships. 2. Keep communication open (before, during and after an IEP meeting). 3. Keep in mind that a student’s assessed needs determine services. Be prepared share ideas about your student’s needs and supporting evidence.

4. Recognize that there is conflict in every team. 5. Acknowledge that conflicting ideas may lead to new solutions.