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.
More Posts:
Do you want to make a greater impact and elevate your advocacy work? If so, joining Right to Read Advocacy’s membership program might be just what you need!
I’ve been following the good work of Debbie Reber, founder and CEO of Tilt Parenting and author of Differently Wired. I really appreciate the insight that she shares on how to advocate for our children. A recent email she sent struck me as especially valuable to our community.
It’s common for neurodiverse children to experience anxiety. How do we know if a child has anxiety because of their dyslexia or if they are generally anxious?
What exactly is the meaning of the word dyslexia? We’ve heard the word time and time again. As the Science of Reading (SoR), the body of research that shows how students learn to read, becomes more mainstream and the identification of students with dyslexia is increasing, SOR will remain at the forefront of the conversation.
On a recent episode of The Today Show, journalist Stephanie Ruhle shared the story of her dyslexia journey. Here we look at the lessons we can learn from her story and list next steps for parents who suspect their child may have dyslexia.
Navigating the world of special education law can be tricky and overwhelming. Here, we explain what parents need to know about their special education rights.
A non-attorney special education advocate supports parents who are seeking better outcomes as they navigate the special education system.
In this guest post from the hosts of the Together in Literacy Podcast, we're looking at the benefits of explicitly teaching cursive handwriting.
A literacy evaluation can be a powerful tool in unveiling the unique narrative of your child's reading journey. But, what exactly is a literacy evaluation and how do you know if your child really needs one?
What is the Orton- Gillingham approach? Why does it work so well? In this article, we're taking a look at OG and explaining why it is so effective!
If you have concerns about your child’s reading ability, contact your child’s school today - don’t delay. Here is a sample letter.
In preparing for an IEP meeting, learn how to use your child’s data to drive decision-making.
If you have a child in special education, be sure to document everything in writing. Here are a few ways to get started.
In preparing for and attending an IEP meeting, remember to take a child-centered approach. Here are some ideas on how to include your child’s perspective.
If you have a child in special education, be sure to build your village of support. You will need help along this journey.
If your child is struggling to read, you may be wondering what steps to take to help. The first step is to request the results of his/her universal dyslexia screening. But, what is a universal screener?