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IEP meeting, questions..

pink_inlovepink_inlove
in Special Needs

i have a meeting this up coming thursday with my son's school.

he has an IEP for ADHD>

i was wondering if anyone has any experience with these meetings or not? i have been to two meetings previously and feel i am not getting any plan of success out of it for my son.

if anyone has any info on any boards or any ways of handling this please let me know..

thanks.

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Re: IEP meeting, questions..

  • doyous&idosdoyous&idos
    Be clear and firm with what you want for your child. If you feel like your child needs a certain tool or service to help make him/her more successful, ask for it. You know your child better than anyone and you know what helps them focus, so be an advocate. If they turn down an idea, ask for an evaluation anyway. People miss things so having a second pair of eyes look at your child is always helpful.
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  • pink_inlovepink_inlove

    Thank you for your words of advice. i appreciate it. i am nervous, because i have had two other meetings this year, and nothing seems to improve or change. my son has had 2 report cards of F's. i am doing what i know how and what i can. i have a tutor, i have him in counseling, i have set up my own pysch eval though a dr i found. i feel stuck. i have called the district to get an advocate , and they said they needed more time, which is fine, but i still want to be educated. he has an IEP, and i was told to ask questions like: if he is suppose to have 20 mins of 1 on 1 time, what are they doing for that??

     so that is where i am coming from, i want to be knowledgable in this area and confident when i go in there. the last meeting made me very upset.

    thanks again.

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  • haboyeshaboyes member
    You as the parent need to feel like the school district is serving your child adequately.  They need to be giving you updates about your child's progress, and you should feel like he is making progress.  If he is not making progress, then changes should be made.  His IEP goals should be specific and attainable.  If you haven't already, just search the web for information on Parent Rights and IDEA.  If you have questions about any of the terms or need any other help, just let me know.  I'll do whatever I can to help.
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  • sh4602sh4602 member
    Im a special ed teacher and deal with IEP all the time make sure you tell them your concerns. there is a section in there for that. also if you know that something works well with you child (ie sitting in the front of the class) make sure it is in there.
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  • pink_inlovepink_inlove

    thank you , to the two of you!!
     i will be searching for more info on the rights. i have set up the IEP plan with the school and haven't seen much progress. so, i thought it was time for another meeting. funny how you find out info that the school makes it seem wasn't there...

    i did talk to someone about getting the advocate to come with, he was informative and helped me feel like i was not alone. i am nervous for tomorrow, i tend to get a little sensitive and over-whelmed at these meetings.

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  • mskolmanmskolman member

    I am a teacher in Wisconsin and have participated in many IEP meetings. I think parents don't really know that what they say goes. I suggest you go in with that attitude and get your questions/concerns addressed. As the teacher, I too have had to speak up because the child is in my classroom and I am ultimately the one who is reponsible for their educational success. These other people making up the goals and/or accomodations don't know my student as well as I do. As the parent, you know your child even better than the teacher...so please speak up and find someone who will listen. The meeting can't be ended until you feel your concerns are met. If interventions/accomodations are not working since last meeting, other things need to be tried.

    Do you have concerns about his particular teachers? I know some teachers are more willing than others to adjust and accomodate students with special needs. I don't know your particular situation, but please feel free to ask me any questions you feel I might be able to answer.

    Good luck!

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  • meghans30meghans30 member
    Seems like you've gotten some really great advice. I agree with what Auntie has said about calling in a professional advocate. It sounds as if you are in the process, but be aware that there are also private advocates. Our school system is known for being difficult, and out of compliance. She knows all the ins nd outs, the people higher up and basically wrote the goals. The original goals were so vague. You want to insure your child can make progress and that the IEP is not simply a piece of paper. Good luck!
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  • pink_inlovepink_inlove

    Thank you everyone. i appreciate all of your time and support. my last post i made, i deleted and was ready to delete my account because my exprience here wasn't was warm and fuzzy as i would have liked.

    you all have really turned my frown upside down!!

    yes, i have looked into an advocate. they needed more notice, but my fiance will be going with me this time. i get too emotional and feel like they are picking on my son, instead of helping him. like they are telling me all of the negative instead of figure out how to fix the bumps on the road.

    at the first meeting i set up , after the first F report card, the special ed teacher said that she told me son, if he didn't do "such and such", that she was going to rap him with "this" (her cane).

    when another teacher put in a suggestion to try " this". the sp ed teacher , snuffed and huffed and said "~alex, yeah , right..

    his ss teacher/language arts theach, at that same first meeting (alex was at as well, they said he was old enough) told alex that if he doesn't shape up and get on the right path that he would be an at risk student , being held back and on a bad path to " anyhting negative, like skipping, drugs, ect...

    i try to be respectful and polite, but this time i want to be confident and aware of all my rights and go in wiht a plan. i have already set in my head that i am switching schools for my kids . there is no positive success plan here for my son, he crys and doesn't want to go and asks if he can be home schooled.

    there are never any problems with being disrespectful, i always ask..

    the last straw was when the school called monday to tell me my daughter needed to leave to change her jeans because there was a hole in her knee and they put duck tape over while she was in the office waiting to be picked up to change.

    angie

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  • mskolmanmskolman member

    Wow...as a teacher myself, I am appauled that you have been treated this way by the special ed teacher  at your school. It is completely unprofessional and not helping anyone! She should leave the teaching profession because it sounds as though she is burned out. It also sounds like the school in general is not very accomodating to the students and families.

    While I would probably change schools as well, this shouldn't have to be case. I would do everything in my power to have the special ed teacher's actions documented. She has no right to be treating you, your child, or anyone else like this. I am so sorry you have had to go through this. Just know that not everyone is like this and I am sure you will find a better fit for you and your family. For the most part, teachers are in the profession because they want to help students and are passionate about what they do.

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  • cntrygrl123cntrygrl123
    As a special education teacher just be completely upfront.  If you have any questions ask them, if you are unclear about something say it.  I am always completely upfront with my parents and try to be as clear as possible but love when they ask me questions about things because that way I know that they care about what it is we are talking about and are really thinking about what i am saying.
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  • pink_inlovepink_inlove

    i just wanted to say thank you again.

    i went to the meeting and really didnt get anywhere. i will bring a pencil box to each class room for my son and that is about it.

    the principal acted as if she were bord or irritated with being there. she kept checking her blackberry. i left my phone in the  car so there wouldn't even be a vibration from it.

    my fiance came with and said he was sickened by how they were, they really it seems as if they were covering thier bases incase i did something more.

    i did get a letter in the mail over break as well, stating i needed to set up a meeting because my son may be retained.

    so , really , i feel no plan of success here.

    i know there are good loving teachers there. i feel that is how my son's math teacher, but over all , we aren't getting what we need.

    it makes me sad.

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  • haboyeshaboyes member
    That's really too bad. ?I am so sorry you are going through that. ?You really may have to bring an advocate along with you. ?Someone who really knows the laws inside and out and can speak to them about your concerns. ?That is?infuriating?that the principal acted like that. ?I don't understand educators who don't care about educating. ?I almost wonder if you should try to talk to a lawyer that specializes in these issues, just to get their advice and maybe have some force behind you next time you go back.
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