IEP Meetings can be a huge source of stress for parents. I’ve compiled all kinds of useful information so that you’ll be more confident and handle your IEP meeting like a pro.
IEP Preparation Checklist As an advocate, I have attended literally hundreds of IEP meetings. I know you, Moms. You’re stressed and anxious. But attending all those IEP meetings has also given me a tremendous view of all kinds of people and meetings and ways to prepare. If you hire a Special Education Advocate, you might…
What is the Length of Time for an Average IEP Meeting? How long is an IEP meeting? How long should an IEP meeting be? There’s an easy and short answer to this: as long as it needs to be. However, if you’re here, chances are you’re being told something else. Or, being told that your…
What does IDEA say about parents attending IEP meetings? Whew, can we please put this issue to bed, once and for all? Because I have had it up to here (I’m pointing to my forehead, lol) with schools telling parents that “we only have IEP meetings at 7 or 2.” Or something like that. No,…
Draft IEP Timelines “Well, Mrs. Lightner, we are not going to be making any changes to this IEP today.” Oh lordy. Do I remember that day! Kevin was still a toddler and it was one of my first IEP meetings. That woman really tapped a sleeping bear. I had read about IEPs, as much as…
The misogyny of IEP meetings. I receive a surprising amount of criticism for catering to women on this blog. Or, writing about them and to them. Sure, much of it is constructive criticism such as “Remember, dads do this stuff too!” It’s usually in response to a post that I’ve done that has “moms” in…
Be on Alert for these phrases at your IEP Meeting. You’re sitting in your IEP meeting. Things seem to be going well. Everyone is pleasant and there’s a constructive conversation. But your gut is telling you that something just isn’t quite right. But, how do you know? Well, after having attended hundreds of IEP meetings,…
When your IEP Meeting is Tomorrow This was in an email I opened this morning: “Hi! I have my IEP meeting later today, please send me any advice you have that you think might be helpful. Thanks.” Now, this is not an unusual email. Actually, several times a week, either via email or in our…
6 Principles of Special Education I have to open this post with a shout out to blog reader Mike T. He emailed me, as a link to this post and the printable was gone. I searched and searched and sure enough, he was right. So, starting over. Because the 6 Principles of IDEA and Special…