Seizure Action Plan I could handle the not talking. I could handle the stimming. I could handle the developmental delays. And the picky eating, and the clumsiness due to poor motor planning, and the meltdowns. But seizures might break me. I have PTSD-like behaviors from watching him have so many seizures. When he has a […]
10 Common Mistakes that Parents make during the IEP Process. {but you can fix!}
Parent Mistakes in the IEP Process Raise your hand if you just LOVE going to IEP meetings. (waits) No one? Raise your hand if you drink a bottle of wine the evening of an IEP meeting? A-ha! There, now I see some hands. I often say, “You don’t know what you don’t know” and the […]
How to know if you are ready for your IEP meeting. {free printable checklist!}
IEP Meeting Checklist This is a really old post that I have been meaning to update for ages. I see the image show up on Pinterest and I just cringe because I know that the information that is on this site now is just so much better than it was in 2015. The old post […]
How {and when!} to request your child’s IEP records and files. {including FERPA request}
How {and when!} to request your child’s IEP records and files. We were seated around a huge U-shaped setup. I was direct across from the school district’s attorney, though we were a good 10 feet apart. He looked right at me and said, “I’m sorry Mrs. Lightner, just because you wish for these records to […]
{Self-Advocacy and Self-Determination} 35 Measurable IEP Goals.
Measurable IEP Goals for Self-Advocacy and Self-Determination We do so much for our kids, and we mean well. But time marches on whether we want it to or not. We have to prepare our kids for independence and life on their own. As scary a thought as that is sometimes. A child or student who […]
8 Ways the Special Education System Really is Stacked Against Parents.
8 Ways the Special Education System Really is Stacked Against Parents. The special education system is stacked against parents. It’s not your imagination. It is not an even playing field. Lately, I’ve been feeling very deflated. I have written to several people I know in this field to reach out for help, reach out for […]