FAQ from Autism Source: How Can I Prepare for an IEP Meeting?
March 15, 2013
By Autism Society
The IEP is the cornerstone for the education of a child with a disability. It should identify the services a child needs so that he or she may grow and learn during the school year. It is also a legal document that outlines:
- The child's special education plan, by defining goals for the school year
- Services needed to help the child meet those goals
- A method of evaluating the student's progress
The objectives, goals and selected services are not just a collection of ideas on how the school may educate a child, the school district must educate your child in accordance with the IEP. For more information, click here.
Below are few resources that may be helpful in formulating IEP goals for children of all ages and abilities.
Wrightslaw provides links to many special education content areas. Look to the left-hand side, scroll down you'll see the "Topics" section. There is specific information on autism and many other topics here.
Some additional topics of interest include:
School Placement
Behavior/discipline
Bullying
There is also a Community Helpline for parents to pose questions about the issues they are having with their children's IEPs
Another website to consider is the IEP Goals and Objectives Bank, which provides comprehensive information about the IEP process.
Several books provide information that can be helpful with IEPs:
How Well Does Your IEP Measure Up? Quality Indicators for Effective Service Delivery, by Diane Twachtman-Cullen, Jennifer Twachtman-Reilly, and David L. Holmes
Writing Measurable IEP Goals and Objectives, by Barbara Bateman and Cynthia Herr; and
The Complete IEP Guide: How to Advocate for your Special Ed Child, by Lawrence M. Siegel.
In addition, you might want to take a look at the catalogs of the following publishers for other resources and ideas on educational methods:
Autism Asperger Publishing Company
Future Horizons Inc.
Jessica Kingsley Publishers
You may want to seek an advocacy organization or special education lawyer for help with an IEP meeting. They can be found by searching “Legal/Advocacy” on the Autism Society's online referral database, Autism SourceTM You may also want to search “Information and Support” to find local parent groups, including Autism Society affiliates, that may be able to provide an advocate for IEP meetings. Search Autism SourceTM by zipcode for the best result.
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