Was your child recently diagnosed with a disability? Or, they were struggling in school and you were told they need an IEP?
Deep breaths. It’s a lot to take in and a lot to learn. But you’ve come to the right place. And, we’ve all been there. You might read this blog or join our Facebook group and be overwhelmed. Again, deep breaths.
You’re outside of your comfort zone, so that’s to be expected. You’ll learn it.
You can also search for what you need.
Pandemic Parenting
What will happen to my IEP this Fall, if I choose to…..
Your IEP This Fall We are faced with so many tough decisions this fall. I addressed the decision-making process in
Pandemic Parenting
How to Request Homebound Placement | Examples | Sentence Starters
Homebound Placement during the Pandemic Normally, I’m against homebound IEP placement for most students. After all, it is one
Don’t IEP Alone
10 Tips for a Meaningful IEP Transition Plan.
IEP Transition Planning IEP Transition Planning is probably the most important time in a student’s IEP life. Yet it
IEP Goals, Accommodations and Strategies
40 IEP Goals for Reading | Comprehension | Strategies | Evaluations
Reading: IEP Goals & Strategies Ways to improve Reading Comprehension: Use Visuals. Answer Questions. Predicting. Summarizing/Retelling. Identifying parts of
Don’t IEP Alone
IDEA Procedural Safeguards | The IEP Parents’ Rights Document that most Parents never read.
Special Education Procedural Safeguards Ok, finger-wagging time. Because I know that a very large percentage of parents are not
IEP Goals, Accommodations and Strategies
IEP Goal Bank | List of 1000s of Measurable IEP Goals and Objectives
IEP Goal Bank A well written IEP goal is essential to the IEP and special education. How can you monitor
Don’t IEP Alone
IEP Testing and Evaluations: What Parents Should Know | Timelines | Initial Evals
IEP Evaluations Different variations of questions come up about IEP evaluations all the time. Parents are unclear about timelines, what
Special Education
Parents, You are the IEP Police. Yes, you!
IEP Parent Participation This is a concept that I really need parents to grab on to and internalize. I hope
Don’t IEP Alone
Special Factors in the IEP | Parent and Team Considerations
Special Factors in the IEP Most of the questions that we receive as educational advocates are about the implementation of
Special Education
How to get an IEP for your Child, explained by a Special Education Advocate.
How to get an IEP. Gather your thoughts about your child and their struggles at school. Decide if meeting with
IEP Goals, Accommodations and Strategies
Executive Functioning | Measurable IEP Goals | Accommodations | Strategies
Executive Functioning IEP Goals Executive function is an umbrella term for cognitive processes such as planning, working memory, attention, problem
IEP Goals, Accommodations and Strategies
NVLD | Non-Verbal Learning Disorder | Symptoms | IEP Goals Accommodations
NVLD NVLD-Non Verbal Learning Disability or Disorder. All I can say is wow! Is your child struggling with pragmatics and
Special Education
{The Secret Revealed} How some Moms make this IEP thing look easy.
How to have an easier time during the IEP. “Mrs. Lightner, we’ll add the additional hour of OT to
Don’t IEP Alone
The Special Education Placement Decision Making Process, explained.
Special Education Placement Not only is IEP placement one of the most debated topics among parents, it’s also one
Special Education
How to Prevent your School from Removing IEP Supports and Services.
Can the School Remove Supports and Services from the IEP? This is probably the number one reason that parents dread
Special Education
How (and why?) do you remove an IEP?
Can an IEP be removed? One of the, ahem, benefits of this job is that I get to talk to
Don’t IEP Alone
All About your IEP: A Guide to Getting Started, for Parents.
What is an IEP? IEP stands for Individual Education Plan. It is just what it says. Children with disabilities are
Special Education
Worst.IEP.Advice.Ever.
Wanna hear the Worst IEP Advice? The worst IEP advice I’ve ever heard: “Make sure you cry at the
Special Education
What to Do when your School or Teacher is not following the IEP.
My school is not following the IEP! It’s a common parent complaint. Your school, teacher or IEP team is
Special Education
{IEP and Email} What to Know Before You Click “Send.”
IEPs and E-Mail Email. How did we live without it? IEPs are relatively new, not even 50 years old. Obviously, e-mail
Don’t IEP Alone
IEP Homebound Instruction: A Guide for Parents.
IEP Homebound Wow. So I have to do a post on homebound. Granted, I guess at some point, there will
Don’t IEP Alone
What to do when your desired (out-of-district) IEP placement rejects your child.
IEP Placement: Private and Out-of-District Ahhh…you’re finally there. After months (maybe years!) of IEP meetings, you and your
Don’t IEP Alone
Prior Written Notice PWN: The little known game-changer in the IEP process.
Prior Written Notice-PWN How many times have you heard phrases like these, at IEP meetings, when you’ve suggested something?
Don’t IEP Alone
Understanding Related Services on the IEP, for parents.
Related Services on the IEP audiology counseling services early identification family training-counseling and home visits health services medical services nursing
Don’t IEP Alone
They said my child is too old to be considered for “developmental delay.”
Developmental Delay It’s weird, right? Your child has had an IEP for years, and his disability classification has always
Don’t IEP Alone
How To Write Your Best-Ever Parent Concerns Letter for your IEP.
How to Write IEP Parent Concerns. I’m going to wag my finger at you–from this day forward, you
IEP Goals, Accommodations and Strategies
What if I don’t want ‘that’ IEP goal?
I don’t want that IEP goal on my child’s IEP. I know I’ve told the story several
Don’t IEP Alone
7 Red Flags that your IEP is Garbage. {and what to do about it!}
How to tell when you have a crappy IEP. I’ve attended more IEP meetings than I can count. Or
Don’t IEP Alone
Assistive Technology and your IEP: What parents need to know.
Assistive Technology in the Classroom Several years ago, I compiled a series of posts that corresponded with the alphabet. This
Don’t IEP Alone
13 Disability Categories of IDEA: Does it matter which box is checked on an IEP?
13 Categories of IDEA: Conditions and Disabilities Autism (and yes there is medical vs educational!) Deaf-blindness Deafness Developmental delay (DD) Emotional
IEP Goals, Accommodations and Strategies
What happens if your child does not meet their IEP goals?
What happens if your child does not meet their IEP goals? Ah, progress monitoring. I find it to be one
Don’t IEP Alone
At what age does an IEP end?
At what age does an IEP end? I know what you’re thinking. “21!” is what you want to yell out.
Don’t IEP Alone
ESY | Extended School Year Services | Eligibility Criteria, Services, Programs.
What is ESY Extended School Year? ESY (extended school year) is anything that extends beyond the normal six hours a
