After years of patiently waiting and determining your child’s educational capacity, you and your child’s developmental doctor decide that a specialized school system would benefit them more. You choose to bring your child into the individualized education program or IEP so they can learn and grow in an appropriate educational.
How can my child start learning?
Primarily, your school district must determine if your child is eligible for an individualized education program or IEP. School district personnel will evaluate to determine eligibility and to categorize the disability of your child. There are criteria that your child must meet to be part of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Some required criteria include:
- Age limit: Your child must be between birth and 22 years old only.
- Disability Categories: Your child must have one or more of these disabilities to be eligible.
- Impacted Learning: Your child should have a disability that will affect their educational performance that necessitates special education to help them.
- Necessary Assessment: Your child must undergo a comprehensive assessment by qualified professionals with your input.
If your child is eligible, the organization will develop an IEP based on the outline and educational goals specific to the services your child needs.
How can I support my child through this journey?
Preparing for the IEP meeting is something you can do best to ensure a productive discussion. Just a few things you can take note of to prepare yourself for this meeting are:
- Familiarize yourself with the IEP process
- Collect all the relevant documents like medical records, doctor’s reports and other independent evaluations
- Prepare questions and concerns you may have about the process
- Collaborate with the IEP team to discuss any concerns during the meeting
Although legal support is not required in these meetings, having an attorney to advocate for your child will give you the confidence to get the proper educational support.