Tag Archives: IEP advocate

IEP meeting: Okay to not agree in Missouri IEP meeting

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IEP meetings can be frustrating; for both parents and teachers.  However, the information acquired from school staff can be quite helpful to the parent. Parents can ask about the specifics of a child’s schedule and staffing.  Parents can ask about the social dynamics of classes their child participates in.rsz_nclb2girlslookingateachother

One of the most important questions to ask is who has expertise in the child’s specific disability?  Does the district have such expert on staff?  Availability of that staff to work with my child?  Schools that have “programs” based on disability sometimes need to be reminded that the IEP meeting is not about a “program”, but rather about “individualizing” a child’s plan.  If you don’t agree with what is being offered, a parent can say so…and ask for more options.

Advocates at The IEP Center™ help parents solve IEP problems by providing information so they can advocate for the child with special needs.  Don’t be bamboozled!  Waiting and hoping for problems to go away allows our children to regress.  Hoping the problem will go away will only delay getting the problem addressed.  If you’ve had an IEP meeting and issues weren’t resolved, you need an advocate on your side! the-iep-center (800x640)

Never go alone to an IEP meeting; our advocates are available!

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Special Education Parent’s Advocacy Link LLC dba The IEP Center™ provides information to parents regarding the problems of children with disabilities.  We are civil rights advocates for parents of children with disabilities.  We are not attorneys and do not give advice.  Consult an attorney.  We do not have a license to practice law.

We help parents at low-cost.  We help parents prepare for school meetings and also go to mediation and IEP meetings with parents.

©2015 Special Education Parent’s Advocacy Link LLC dba The IEP Center™

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Missouri IEP meeting: student need not attend

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Parents do not have to have the IEP student present in IEP meetings unless the student is age 18.  However students are expected to participate at age 16 to prepare for transition to adulthood.

Carefully ponder if the student needs to be in the meeting.  This can be a disheartening experience for a student who struggles in school, and who has not been understood by school staff. Sometimes such student will inadvertently undermine the efforts of the parent in the IEP meeting. Some parents are lead to believe that it is mandatory.

Advocates at the iep center help parents solve IEP problems by providing information so they can advocate for the child with special needs.  Don’t be bamboozled!  Waiting and hoping for problems to go away allows our children to regress.  Hoping the problem will go away will only delay getting the problem addressed.  Don’t be misled.

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Special Education Parent’s Advocacy Link LLC dba The IEP Center provides information to parents regarding the problems of children with disabilities.  We are not attorneys and do not give advice.  Consult an attorney.

We help parents at low-cost.  We help parents prepare for school meetings and also go to mediation and IEP meetings with parents.

Copyright 2015 ©Special Education Parents Advocacy Link LLC

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Beware of homebound offer for an IEP student

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Some students who are eligible for special education services and have IEPs have behaviors that may be considered by some as violent.  These students are often a challenge for a school district to provide the appropriate program.

A parent may be told the student is so violent that the school district cannot educate the student and homebound is mentioned.  Left out of this conversation could be that the school needs to find a program that is rsz_dropoutdictionaryappropriate for this child and place and transport the child there.  Many outside programs exist for students with extreme needs.

Such “Outside placement” can be costly for the school district.  Perhaps that’s why it isn’t mentioned to parents?

More school districts continue to mention homebound as a way to force the parent to “take it or leave it” when the district wants the student to fit into their system and not provide accommodations/modifications.  Uninformed parents get trampled; some lose jobs and marriages over this scenario.  After all, homebound is often provided at public libraries for only a few hours each week–nothing compared to a full school week.

Advocates at The IEP Center ™ help parents solve IEP problems by providing information so they can advocate for the child with special needs.  Don’t be bamboozled!  Waiting and hoping for problems to go away allows our children to regress.  Hoping the problem will go away will only delay getting the problem addressed.the-iep-center (800x640)

sign up for ezine:  bit.ly/IEPezine

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Special Education Parent’s Advocacy Link LLC dba The IEP Center™ provides information to parents regarding the problems of children with disabilities.  We are not attorneys and do not give advice.  Consult an attorney.

We help parents at low-cost.  We help parents prepare for school meetings and also go to mediation and IEP meetings with parents.

Contact an advocate below:

©2014 Special Education Parent’s Advocacy Link LLC dba The IEP Center™

IEP Teachers don’t know student needs’

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High school student who has attended for years in the district started the fall at a new building where hundreds of students attend. The student is complex and has special needs’. Student was doing well academically previous year but now has some failing grades and hates school.the-iep-center The assertive parent requested an IEP meeting where the parent learned that the teachers’ didn’t understand the child’s disability and expected the student to fit their mold.  One teacher thought the student was “lazy”. One of these teacher’s even needed “more time” to get to know the student!

These same teachers devised a “new” plan to attempt to make it work again in their building; however, it’s doubtful the student will entertain the thought. Parents in Missouri who need help dealing with the public school for their child with an IEP can consult with a professional special education advocate at The IEP Center.   Advocates also help parents when the parent wants an advocate to go to a meeting at the school with them!  Never go alone.

Parents often need to be proactive to make sure the public school system isn’t failing their child or missing out on needed services even when the school “doesn’t offer that”.  Passing grades doesn’t necessarily mean your child is learning.rsz_diversityboyinclasslookingatbook Failing grades doesn’t always mean the child’s program is appropriate. Delays in addressing school problems may make the situation worse; the system moves “slowly”.

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Special Education Parent’s Advocacy Link LLC dba The IEP Center provides information to parents regarding the problems of children with disabilities.  We are not attorneys and do not give advice.  Consult an attorney.

We help parents at low-cost.  Delay works against our kids.

©2014 Special Education Parent’s Advocacy Link LLC dba The IEP Center™   theiepcenter.com is a trademark of the Special Education Parent’s Advocacy Link LLC Contact an advocate here: