Parents and IEPs
Why does it seem so few parents show up to IEP meetings? Do they feel they don't need to be there? That it won't make any difference if they come?
Also, I've heard parents say they want to know more about IEPs. I'd be interested to hear what specific questions they have. Like I tell my students, if you don't ask, I can't answer.
it's only one or two parents against the whole iep board. It can be intimidating.
It would be nice to have a workshop titled "how to survive an iep meeting".
As a parent, I still feel I don't know enough my rights or if my wishes are valid.
Another reason, maybe parent/s are not able to get time off from work.
Maybe we should be asking, instead, how to get these parents to come? How can we force them without gunpoint to come to IEP? Make it a moral obligation? Make it illegal for not showing up? Maybe we should bring the IEP meeting to their home or workplace instead.
Re: showing up for IEPs
Really, mombibi, you hit on my ultimate point -- how CAN parents be encouraged to attend IEP meetings? That's why I wondered why many don't attend now -- without understanding what's holding them back, we can't begin to think of ways to change it.
The points you brought up are interesting. As a teacher, even *I* feel a bit intimidated by the full IEP team, especially district representatives I've never met before, and I have no idea what they know or think about deaf education.
At RSD, each student is assigned a "lead teacher." While all the student's teachers have input into the IEP, the lead teacher is sort of the focal point for making sure it's put together properly, and it is he or she who attends the IEP meeting.
I wonder how often lead teachers really communicate with the student's parents about the IEP *before* the meeting... I wonder if that would help the parent(s) feel more prepared for the meeting. I think of all the people on the IEP team (other than the parents), the teacher is most likely to really be focused on the student's best interests ... as a teacher, I know *I* don't really prioritize things like resources and budgets. So the teacher is probably the most likely ally for the parent, and the teacher *should* also be knowledgeable about the laws applying to special education.
I'm going to post some more about this after I dig into some of my resources. Also, I hope some friends of mine will be showing up to this board starting tomorrow, and they should have a variety of knowledge and experience to offer.
Re: showing up for IEPs
I am always on the parents side (as a teacher). Yes, sometimes there are disagreements. But, overall the parent has the final say in the child's education.
As a parent, you should get a paper explaining your rights (not very readable stuff here in Virginia). Maybe you can find a mentor or parent advocate in your area to talk to about the IEP and to attend the IEP meeting with you.
I really don't like that you feel the team is against you. That just rubs me the wrong way. I am sorry you feel that way.
Good luck to you!
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