• If you have a folder or notebook of specialist reports, or any other material on your child that will be helpful in determining an appropriate program for him or her, bring it along.
• If there are articles you feel offer important information on the educational needs of children with your child’s diagnosis or background, bring a copy for every member of the team.
• Bring a pad of paper to take notes; if you’ve had problems in the past with team members saying something in a meeting and disavowing all knowledge of it later, you might bring a tape recorder.
• Bring a copy of your child’s last IEP.
• If there are classroom papers or report cards that you are concerned about, bring them along.
• Bring a photograph of your child to put on the table during your discussion, to help everybody keep in mind that they are discussing a person and not a collection of statistics.
• If you’re comfortable doing so, bring treats. A plate of cookies or box of candy can put everybody in a good mood, and that’s not a bad place to start.
Next question: What should I wear to an IEP meeting?
