Before You Go to an IEP Meeting
Is it ever possible to be ready for that annual meeting in which your child's Individualized Educational Program is formalized?
Maybe not. Maybe there's always going to be that fear that some new set of test results will be thrown at you, some new district policy, some new expectation or requirement or judgment. And so we go in with determination and trepidation, hoping for the best and bracing for the worst.
Still, while it may not be possible to completely predict the progress of those sometimes-agonizing get-togethers, there are things you can do beforehand to make sure you're at your most alert and able to play along. Read "Before You Go to an IEP Meeting" for articles to bring you up to speed and put you at the top of your game.
Then read the classic IEP-prep essay "Play Hearts, Not Poker," to make sure the game you're playing is the right one.
Image by Terri Mauro
Thank you so much for posting the link to “Play Hearts, Not Poker.” In reviewing it, I feel a lot more comfortable with the idea of meeting with the school, again. It “helps” that my son had a bad day again, clarifying exactly what it is we need to help him with urgently. After reading the web site, I know how to focus what we need done, I know more what not to expect from the school, I know something that might help them in their interactions… with luck, we might get somewhere mutually-agreed-upon with clear and reachable goals!