Pop-Up IEP for Parents/Advocates

Are you dreading your next Individual Education Program (IEP) meeting? Are you already in disagreement with your IEP team or your school staff over needed services for your child? If so, you are not alone. Below are some "conversation stoppers" that parents may hear when advocating for their children. Knowing what the "real" issues might be, some respectful but effective responses, and what the laws say about educating children with disabilities can assist you in getting your IEP team meetings moving again in a more positive direction!

Click on the quote to see possible responses and support for those responses.

1. "We’ve never had a child like yours in our school."	2. "We don’t have an inclusion program here."	3. "We can’t mainstream your child unless we have a one-to-one instructional assistant or aide."	4. "Your child can’t participate in academic classes if he can’t pass the state assessments."
5. "We focus on learning functional skills in this program."	6. "You need to be realistic."	7. "First we’ll work on skills and then we’ll see if your child is ready for mainstreaming."	8. "Your child’s health needs make it impossible for us to serve him here."
9. "We don’t have a full time school nurse."	10. "Your child’s behaviors are disrupting the classroom."	11. "We need your permission to use the time-out room for out-of-control behaviors."	12. "The general education teacher could not be here today."
13. "Our district doesn’t put technology into the IEP."	14. "We just don’t have the money for technology."	15. "We’ll use teacher observation to measure that IEP goal."	16. "We can’t give your child special education services if you don’t sign this IEP."