tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3004802570191868325.post5781395364800877127..comments2023-03-23T03:34:41.795-04:00Comments on Our Maine Life: I am an Invested ParentUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3004802570191868325.post-21728912325902187362009-04-28T09:33:00.000-04:002009-04-28T09:33:00.000-04:00Diana had fabulous information! Amen to everythin...Diana had fabulous information! Amen to everything she said....Lisahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16146320008307628429noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3004802570191868325.post-87918519891768181832009-04-27T22:40:00.000-04:002009-04-27T22:40:00.000-04:00I'm glad things are finally starting to move in a ...I'm glad things are finally starting to move in a positive direction for you! It sounds like you're off to a good start.<br /><br />Here's a few things I've learned over the past year about IEP's (pretty much all from trial and error, by the way.)<br /><br />1. Way to go on submitting your stuff. No one knows your daughter better than you do. My submission on my son 14 pages. It used to be 8, but everything was so crammed on there, I spread it out. My last teacher meeting went like this..."You read this section and then you may ask questions. Ok, now we'll move onto the next section...and so forth." That way I KNOW they read it. <br /><br />2. The teacher is legally required to be present at the IEP meeting. If the teacher chooses not to be there, or "those in charge" decide to proceed with the meeting without her, those who make those decisions are in violation of federal laws. Should you need to down the road, you can use this as leverage. :-)<br /><br />3. If you haven't already done so, load your battle guns by doing some research on your state's special education laws. Believe me, educators know the laws - and they know every loophole there is in them - and they are banking on the fact that you don't. When you can start spouting facts off intelligently with them, they will be much less inclined to jerk you around.<br /><br />4. You as the parent are an equal IEP team member to all the case workers and teachers. As such, you have the right to call an IEP meeting at any time during the year. Once you get your neuropsych eval done, you can call a meeting and make necessary changes at that point.<br /><br />5. I would go in and be forthright with your principal about your daughter's needs. What you specified for teacher needs is perfectly appropriate and shouldn't be difficult at all for the school to accomodate. Getting the principal on board from the start is one of the best things you can do to help your daughter! We ended up having to change teachers in Feb of this year for my DS because the teacher he originally had was causing so many problems...and it was the principal's decision to do that. <br /><br />6. The principal (generally) is also legally obligated to be at IEP meetings acting as the LEA - can't remember what that acronymn stands for, but it has something to do with them being the lead educator over the school. If they weren't at the formla IEP meeting, they are in violation of another federal law.<br /><br />7. This isn't IEP related, but social skills related. Check to see if there are any community resources available during the summer for teaching social skills. We're hoping to be able to do this at least for our youngest DS this summer. Very often you'll find these through crisis prevention, respite, or abuse recovery programs. You may also be able to find them through the early intervention programs.Dianahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08444891084585965661noreply@blogger.com