IEP meeting info?

Question

I have an IEP meeting for my five year old who will be entering Kindergarten in the fall. He has behavioral special needs and Early-Onset Bipolar Disorder. This is his first meeting. I am wondering if anyone has some information on how to make the meeting go more smoothly. How should I prepare, and how can I get the best accomodations for my son? He will need a 1:1 aide as he has at his preschool. He will be six in July, as we waited another year before sending him because he was not ready last year.

Please do not judge me or my son for him having this diagnosis. It is real. He gets SSI for it.

Answer 1

Make a list of the accommodations you want and what you feel his needs are. Then spend a lot of time tonight thinking about all the reasons why you love your son.  Think of everything!  IEP meetings seem like torture to me.  It's hard having a room full of  "experts" talking about all the problems your baby has, so it is good to prepare for this emotionally.

If you don't agree with the recommendations don't sign the paperwork!  If you don't agree appeal and/or ask for another evaluation.

God bless you.  You will be in my prayers tonight.

Answer 2

For a one on one aide, I would suggest that you go to www.wrightslaw.com and read their article on obtaining this for your child.

For more assistance, see www.ivillage.com Go to the message boards and look for the message boards for Special Education Plans, Children with Mental Illness, and Children with Bipolar. You will get tons of assistance, information, and support!!

Answer 3

Has he been in a special preschool program? If so, bring his records with him. Do you have any input from his doctors?. If so bring this also. Will he be 'mainstreamed' or will he be in a resource room with other children? Ask that the aide be present as well as the special ed teacher. Aslo use this as an 'education' session to advise teaching staff of his meds, likes, dislikes, what upsets him, what calms him down, his learning style; ie: visual, tactial, etc.  You might also want to consider a 'communication log' where you can be given written comments on how his day went and what he is being taught. This will help with consistancy and so that everyone understands what is happening. I went through special ed with my daugher when she had seizures and had learning disablities. You have to be your child's best advocate without being overbearing and argumentative. It can be a challenge. Best of luck.

Answer 4

read everything, check on all options not just what the school recommended. get independant testing. copy every paper connected to the IEP. make sure they stay ontop of the childs program. DO NOT allow them to make excuses. you may have to do the most work to make sure the child is geting the IEP followed not only by the special ed office, but also the teacher adjust to it as well. try to have a advocate (family member or friend) with you as a support if the information is over whelming.

Answer 5

I am looking at my daughter's IEP tonight trying to read over it and make sure it covers all the bases.

My advice to you is learn all you can about your child's rights. Some folks on here suggested that I look at Wrightslaw webpage for help. This site sells books, but does have some free information and a weekly newsletter to help parents.

It has been helpful for me.

You can ask that your child's IEP include being seated near the front of the room, more time to complete tasks, extra help as needed, etc.

Answer 6

When he was in pre-k did he have an IFSP(individual family service plan)? You should take that with you and use it as a reference to what accommodations he had then and if he would still need them now.

Going to leave a couple links for you that should help, one is to the US Dept of Education's IEP Guide, it will tell you everything about an IEP which includes:

The Basic Special Education Process Under IDEA

A Closer Look at the IEP

Contents of the IEP

Additional State and School-System Content

The IEP Team Members

Writing the IEP

Deciding Placement

After the IEP is Written

Implementing the IEP

Reviewing and Revising the IEP

What If Parents Don't Agree With the IEP

Summary

Sample Form

Information Resources

The second is to examples of accommodations by the students characteristics, if you click the next link they have the do's and don'ts of selecting accommodations and  2 pages after the do's and don'ts they have a list of questions you can answer to help identify which type of accommodations may be needed. The third is to examples of accommodations according to the type of accommodation (presentation, response, setting, timing & scheduling). Don't be afraid to ask for any accommodations that may benefit your son.

Answer 7

Go to the meeting with a list of accomodations you think he needs, be prepared to be told that he won't get all of them.  Does he need any other services, ie. occupational therapy, speech/language therapy, etc.  Have you already been told by the school that he will receive a 1:1 aide?  Schools are reluctant to provide that due to the cost.  Find out about the setting.  What I HATE is that classes for behaviorally disordered so often end up being K-5 because they don't have enough money to split the kids up.  Kindgergartners should NOT be in a room with 5th graders, I hope your child is not facing this as a possibility.  I wish you the best of luck.

-S (special ed. teacher)

Answer 8

I have been there with my son. Fight fight fight. Don't take no for an answer and don't let them take advantage of you. Study up on the law before hand. I suggest you tape record it. Don't sign the IEP. It is a legal binding document and if you don't agree with it, don't sign it. If you feel you need some help, look online for an advocate. They are usually parents who have been in your shoes before and who have won.

I am now in my 8th month of fighting for a one on one for my son who also is BP amongst some other things. Just don't give up and show them you mean business.

Answer 9

...and get to know the teacher, work with her, ask for a daily or weekly report, follow through on what is needed at home and don't be afraid to have a parent teacher meeting whenever you need to- it doesn't have to be an IEP each time, unless you see the needs are not being made. If they are not, keep on them.

Answer 10

Bring with you copies of information on your son's bipolar disorder and any recommendations that the person who diagnosed him has.  I don't know what his behavioral needs are, but if he has known triggers list them and the behavior for the team members (some kids don't react well to loud noises, for example, and have tantrums or crying spells after hearing one).  Do you know of any specific techniques used in his pre-school that worked especially well for him?  Ask his pre-school teachers and his 1:1.  Is your son on meds?  If he is then the school needs to know this.  

As for accommodations, discuss your son's strengths and weaknesses honestly with the IEP team.  An IEP can be reviewed and changed at any time you request.  If you try some accommodations and they do not seem to work or if some tried are found to be unnecessary then you can revisit the issue.

Good luck!!