Dionne - didn't go to his IEP meeting because, "No one is going to listen to a kid anyway."
Marshall - went to his IEP meeting but just sat there and didn't say anything, even though he really didn't agree with some of what was said.
Frank - didn't attend his daughter's IEP meeting because, "I am sure the school knows what they are doing. They all have degrees in special ed and I don't."
Kayla - knew she has a hard time speaking out so she brought Auntie April to her IEP meeting with her. April told the special education teacher that maybe her nieces were not going to college but that Kayla was and they had just better change those IEP goals that said she would take work study half the day and work in the cafeteria because did they know that Kayla hates washing dishes and her career goal sure did not include food service.
Cindy - who met with her daughter's teacher before the IEP meeting to discuss what they thought Tamara's needs were. Cindy and the teacher then presented their ideas to the rest of the IEP team.
If you are a parent of a student who has an IEP or you are the student, understanding Individual Education Plans can help you to help your family member or yourself
WHY AN Individual Education Plan (IEP) IS SO IMPORTANT.....
Here is what is on an Individual Education Plan
- What the student will learn this year, that is what the educational goals are.
- Where he or she will learn this, whether in a regular classroom, alternative school, special class or somewhere else
- What services the school will provide. Whether the student will get speech therapy, physical therapy, counseling or other types of services.
- Whether the student will receive services year-round or only during the school year.
- When services will start, how often the student will receive services and how long these will last.
- Whether the student will have the same requirements for high school graduation as other students.
Next page: More about what an IEP is and what should be on it