Tips for Surviving an IEP Meeting

By September 15, 2019November 3rd, 2024Family, Advocacy, Lifestyle2 min read
Family Advocacy Lifestyle
Tips for Surviving an IEP Meeting
Michelle Tucker

Published: September 15, 2019  •  Reading Time: Less than 2 minutes   •  Comments: 3 Comments  •  Tags:

Michelle TuckerMom of two and seeking sanity in the everyday. Let’s chat about family, school struggles, travel, and living our best life. Located in the San Francisco Bay area.…

IEP Tips
IEP meetings can be daunting.  It doesn’t matter if it’s your first or 30th meeting, each and every one comes with a bit of anxiety.  Because of this, I wanted to share some of our IEP meeting tips that we’ve learned over the years.
For those of you who don’t know what an IEP meeting is, first off that’s awesome because you are not having to deal with them. Second, IEP stands for “Individualized Education Program.” They are set up to support  kids who qualify for special education and learning services.
Both of my children have IEPs and receive special education services, so we have seen more than our share of meetings.  We are currently in our 8th year of school, and by now you would think I would be used to these meetings.  Even now, after six years, I still get nervous in the days leading up to each one.  I have learned a lot along the way, but I am still learning even more about the ways to best advocate for my children. There are a few things I wish I would have learned sooner than later, and that is what led me to write this post.  I thought I would pass along a few tips that have helped us, so perhaps some parents or caretakers out there can leverage this knowledge as the begin their IEP journey.
1

Write down a list of issues you would like to discuss and share it in advance if possible

This is almost like having your own mini agenda. It gives you the opportunity to talk about struggles your child may be having and strengths that the school can help nurture.
2

Know how important you are as a parent

When you go into these meetings know that you are an equal member of your IEP team. Your voice and opinion counts just as much as everyone else’s in the room. Armed with this knowledge, don’t be afraid to ask questions and share your points of view. It took us a couple years to feel empowered to contribute in the minefield that is the acronyms and lingo used in the meetings.
3

Learn the acronyms and lingo

What you call things may not be what they call things. If you use the wrong words, you many not get the affordance you need. If you don’t understand something, ask. Don’t agree to anything if you don’t completely understand.
4

Always take notes or record the meeting

We always tried to take as many notes as we could, but from time to time we would still miss some things. It was our advocate who turned us on to the idea of recording the meetings. It helps to go back and re-listen to some parts that you might not remember clearly later. Just remember to present in writing a notice of intent to record the meeting. You need to do this at least 24 hours in advance.
5

Don’t go it alone

My husband and I have always made it so we were both available for the meetings. They took priority over everything else in our lives. This can be a big pain in the butt when you factor in work schedules and child care, but in the end it is well worth it. It is always great to have a second pair of ears that may catch things the other doesn’t. The other person doesn’t have to be a spouse, it could be a friend, relative or an advocate. If you think about ratios, the school district will be well-represented… that can make you feel very alone.
6

Do your research

Do as much research as you can on what the team will be discussing at your meeting. Both of our kids are dyslexic, so I did my best to become an expert on the subject to find out which accommodations have worked for others. Also, find out who will be attending the meeting. This will help you prepare more specific questions directed to the right people. It’s also good to ask for a copy of any assessments that your child that may have had in advance of the meeting. This will give you a chance to go over the results and prepare any questions you may have regarding the assessments. Request copies of the current or the newly proposed draft IEP before the meeting. Review it and become familiar with the content — be sure to write down questions and add them to the agenda.
7

Get a big binder

I tried my best to stay organized, but a simple thing like a binder was a game changer for me. Our advocate requested organizing all our paperwork chronologically into a three ring binder. This has helped so much keeping all the IEP paperwork (there is a lot) neat and tidy. It also makes it easy to quickly find information during the meeting that you may have to reference.
8

Prioritize your list of wants and needs

After doing your research you may have a list of accommodations you will want to request for your child. Prioritize the ones that you feel are most important and will have the largest impact on your child. Be sure to consider the emotional and social impacts in addition to the educational impacts. There is a chance they may not be able or willing accommodate all your requests, so you want to make sure you get the ones that are more important.
9

Talk to other IEP parents

When we first started the process, even before it officially started, I tried to connect with whomever I could to talk about the meetings and how they worked. I wanted to leverage their experience. I found that other parents who have been through an IEP and know the process are usually more than willing to have a chat and help you out. We have all had that “first meeting,” so we know how stressful it can be.
10

Stay on top of the IEP

This one may not be for the meeting itself, but it is so important. Make sure accommodations are in place and being implemented. Don’t confuse the teacher knowing what is in the IEP with them actively executing against it. This is especially important if your child has accommodations and is also main-streamed (i.e. is with the general education classes not in special day classes or resource room). Pay attention to see what is working and if your child is making progress. Be mindful of the tactics they are using to redirect your child — they are normally non-verbal and shouldn’t draw the attention of the other students. I could write an entire post on how one of the teachers asked my child, “Did you take your meds today?” in front of the entire class. Remember, you are your child’s number one advocate, and staying on top of things will hopefully make your next meetings a little easier.

These are my top tips as of now, but I am sure this list will grow as we have more meetings and learn new things. Every year is different. These tips have helped us navigate and survive the IEP process to date. They’ve kept us sane through those moments when you are convinced you’re doing it all wrong… because you’re not. I hope they help you too. I’d love to hear what’s worked for you! If you would like to read more about our journey, check out my post on Our Dyslexic Journey.

Tags:

You May Also Like

FamilyTravelFeatured The Best Family Trips by Age: When and Where to Travel With Kids
February 6, 2026

The Best Family Trips by Age: When and Where to Travel With Kids

Michelle Tucker 0
Quinoa Spinach Salad SaladsEatsLifestyleFeatured Spinach Quinoa Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette
January 13, 2026

Spinach Quinoa Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette

Michelle Tucker 6
concrete Paint DIYLifestyle Budget-Friendly Concrete Makeover: Let’s Paint the Patio
June 27, 2025

Budget-Friendly Concrete Makeover: Let’s Paint the Patio

Michelle Tucker 0

Join the discussion 3 Comments

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Share
×