How to Build Your Village
“It takes a village to raise a child.”
Do not attend an IEP meeting alone. I repeat – Do not attend alone. Who will be at the IEP meeting with you? Who knows your child well and would willingly advocate on their behalf? Consider who will be a part of your village:
Spouse/significant other – having both parents appear unified is beneficial to the child. When parents are at odds about the child’s services a less favorable outcome could result.
Friend – a friend who also has a child receiving special education services could be helpful in navigating the nuances of the meeting.
Family member – perhaps the child’s aunt, uncle, cousin or grandparent is able to speak on behalf of the child and provide support for you as well.
Clergy member – If you have a trusted relationship with a clergy member, having him or her present could help with tone of the meeting.
Advocate – An advocate could help you navigate the IEP process and provide support during the meeting. If you are inviting an advocate, as a courtesy, be sure to provide advance notification to the administrator on your team – no one likes surprises
Attorney – If your child is not getting the support needed, you may need to consider hiring an attorney. It’s ideal to first try to collaborate with the district rather than hiring an attorney for the first IEP meeting.
Private evaluator – If you had private evaluations conducted, strongly consider having the private evaluator(s) attend the meeting to discuss their findings. The evaluator’s expertise could certainly be helpful in your meeting especially if you are seeking additional support services.
Also, if you are in need of a translator or interpreter, be sure to notify the district in advance. The local educational agency (school district) is responsible for providing a translator or interpreter. If having a translator or interpreter is needed and there is not one made available to you, strongly consider postponing the meeting. As the parent advocate, you need to be able to fully participate in the meeting.
In addition to having human resources in your village, it’s also beneficial to know of organizations that offer valuable advocacy resources such as the Council for Parent Attorney Advocates (COPAA) and state’s parent advocacy center. Also consider diagnosis specific organizations such as the International Dyslexia Association, Decoding Dyslexia, National Autism Association, and America Speech-Language-Hearing Association. Most diagnoses do have a national organization and often times local chapters.
Gathering support from other individuals and organizations will help you gain confidence as you navigate the special education process. Read more of my Top Tips for Productive IEP Meetings: Preparing for an IEP Meeting, Take a Child-Centered Approach, Document, and Use Data to Drive Decisions.
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