Your Child Needs an IEP…..It’s Not the End of The World

Aligned with my goals for upgrading the site and in an effort to bring my readers the very best content and information,  from time to time I will be partnering with other bloggers and those who are experts on the topics that I talk about.  No, I don’t know it all and have no qualms about saying it.  I actually take great pride in knowing some of the brightest and caring people in Brooklyn.  They may or may not be household names yet that posses the expertise, and have been on the ground doing God’s work; and not for the fanfare.

I have the pleasure of introducing you to Special Ed/Parent expert Mrs. Sheryl Davis.  She and I have partnered on countless initiatives and both have children with IEP’s.  She’s a steadfast advocate who has served the both the Education and Special Ed community for many years. Sheryl has been a Board Member, PTA President, SLT member and CSEC Council member to just name a few.

Tips on Navigating the IEP Process by Mrs. Sheryl Davis

I am thrilled that Kisha has asked me to share a few things to do when you are preparing for your child’s I.E.P.

Special Education can be a scary and confusing journey however; with the new Special Education Reform, Special Education is, in the words of the Department of Education (D.O.E.), a service rather than a place. How to secure those services available to your particular child’s needs can be a bit over-whelming, so my hope is that these tips will help you strategically maneuver through once your child has completed the evaluation process and is now ready for an I.E.P.

• Know and research your child’s disability. There are thirteen classifications, familiarize yourself with these and your own child’s classification to understand what services should be provided by the D.O.E and make a list.
• Ask for a parent member to join you at the meeting. An additional parent member of the Committee of Special Education (C.S.E.) would be a required member of the C.S.E. if requested by the parent, the student or the district in writing at least 72 hours prior to the meeting.
• Services available; Special Education Teacher Support Services (S.E.T.S.S.) administered in small groups or within the classroom to help comprehension during instruction (push in/push out). Related Services i.e.: Speech Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Para-Professionals, Assisted Technology, counseling, school health services and audiology services.
• Your I.E.P. support team consists of the Parent, minimum 1 General Ed. and Special Ed. Teacher (Note that when a general or special education teacher is a required member of the C.S.E., he or she must be present for the entirety of the I.E.P. meeting unless excused from all or part of the meeting through written parental consent at least five days prior to the meeting. But have written reports submitted), School Psychologist (for initial, reconvene, or triennial evaluation), District Representative, Others with expertise, For English as a Second Language parents (Individual to Interpret Evacuations (may serve dual role with any of the professional members listed, but not the parent), School Physician and or Parent Member (if requested 72hrs in advance), student if 14 or older.
• Most importantly, be prepared to enter in with a purpose of securing all needed services for your child without it becoming a shouting match. I know that your child is your most precious asset and that this can be a very emotional time however; you will discover, as I did, if you are prepared it will proceed much smoother, if you are confronted with push back have the law available to justify your request.

You are your child’s best advocate. Using these tools and the resources provided will help you achieve the goal of receiving an appropriate or better education for your child. Take a deep breath, get prepared and get started. Keep a record of every interaction between you, the school, and the C.S.E.

A few resources:

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (I.D.E.A.),

–A Parent’s Guide to Special Education

Advocates for Children

The Arise Coalition

If you have any questions, join Sheryl and I live on Periscope this coming Thursday for a Q &A.    Spread Love the BrooKlyn Kisha Way!

We’re Here to Help!