Preparing For The Iep Process

Under the law, students in the New York special education system must have an Individualized Education Program (IEP)

. Developing an IEP is a daunting process and some parents can be confused by all the steps involved. Parents should learn as much as possible about the IEP concept so they can be the best advocate for their child's education.

What is the Individualized Education Program?

Children learn differently. One child might absorb spoken information best while another does better with written lessons. Most schoolwork is taught in a manner designed to reach to a broad range of students, while the teacher puts extra time in with students who might be struggling.

Children in special education may learn very differently than their more typical peers. These changes go beyond a visually impaired student who requires large-print or Braille texts, or a hearing impaired child who needs the teacher to use an FM system. Certain neurodevelopmental disorders fundamentally change the way a child interacts with sensory input or information organization and they simply can't learn effectively under traditional programs.

These children have a right to an education and schools must make reasonable accommodation for a special education student. The IEP creates a program uniquely tailored to a student's abilities and needs.

Parents Feeling Overwhelmed

Parents who have never been to an IEP meeting may be surprised when they walk in and see the general education teacher, special education teacher, principal, physical therapist, speech therapist, school nurse and maybe three or four others all sitting around the table. The parents feel outnumbered, as though in an "us-versus-them" situation.

There should be no sense of conflict in an IEP. This special education team includes the parents as equal members. The others are not there to dictate a program or force parents into a decision. They provide the benefit of their experience with special needs children and make suggestions, but no one in the room knows the student better than the parents. Without parental input, an effective education program is nearly impossible. Parents should never feel reluctant to speak up if they don't like where an IEP meeting is going.

The Child Comes First

An IEP is created exclusively to meet the needs of a special needs student. It is not designed to accommodate the needs of the teacher, the school or even the parents. All provisions put forth in an IEP should be developed for the sole reason of providing the best education possible to the student.

New York special education schools are well-versed in the IEP process. They provide valuable guidance to parents who are new to special education, as well as to those who have taken a child through several years of the process but might still be confused about the role of an IEP. The education of a child with neurodevelopmental disorders or other disabilities is an evolving process and the IEP changes as the child develops and the school becomes better acquainted with the student.

by: Christine Harrell

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