4 IEP Secrets Withheld From Parents | Special Education Decoded
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 27 ส.ค. 2019
- In today’s episode, we focus on the top IEP secrets the school system seems to hold back from parents intentionally…
For those who want one-on-one IEP help from an expert… we started that service too as a way to further arm parents with the knowledge they REQUIRE!
It’s completely FREE to start… specialedresource.com/iep-con...
Recently, we spoke with a frustrated mother…
Her son had academically limped through elementary school and barely got passed up to middle school…
Truth be told, he maybe shouldn’t have been since he was already so far behind at that moment…
His mom did raise concerns with the school and her son's teachers, but most seemed just simply to be brushed aside…
Brushing off concerns is unfortunately rather commonplace… hence the reason for creating this video.
I will get to the devastating reality this mother faced when battling the school for her child in a moment…
Here’s the reality… the school system is stuck, it’s broken, it’s antiquated, and it’s not evolving fast enough to keep up with the world, or with the needs of children today.
Most often, parents are left trying to push for things their child SHOULD automatically have access to according to laws we have in place such as IDEA or Individuals With Disabilities Education Act…
That is just flat out wrong…
Such was the case with the frustrated mother I mentioned earlier…
It is LAW that a child who has an IEP must have a meeting to go over that document once a year…
This mother was ONLY invited to her son’s IEP meeting every three years…
Three years is the time-frame to determine if a child is still eligible for special education services, not to ensure the services within the IEP are still relevant and working!
After this conversation, we had enough!
It was time to blow the roof of secrecy off of the school system and fully discuss what you, as a parent, need to know to ensure your child gets EVERYTHING they need to reach their success!
1; As A Parent, You Are An EQUAL Partner In An IEP Meeting;
~Most Parents Don’t Feel This Way
~Mainly Because Of The Confusing Language Used In This Process
~It’s Almost Like The System Is DESIGNED To Keep You In The Dark?
~If You Don’t Agree With Something, Push To Change It
2; You Have The Right To Ask As Many Questions As You Need
~Not Obvious In Most Cases
~May Lead To Dirty Looks
~You MUST Understand EVERYTHING;
~That’s Being Proposed
~That’s Being Disregarded
~That’s Being Changed
~That’s Being Added
~That’s Discussed
~This Is The Single Most Important “Secret” You Can EVER Learn
Asking questions is something I cannot stress enough! When I attended my son’s first IEP meeting, I was utterly lost and quickly became discouraged! I wanted to act like and look like I knew what I was talking about… so, I just accepted a lot of what was discussed. In my case, my wife was there who’s a special education expert… so she handled the meeting like a boss! Most parents don’t have an expert with them, so it’s time to put aside your ego and WORK your tail off for your child!
I learned this in subsequent meetings and was able to interject my beliefs, thoughts, and concerns to the point the rest of the team agreed and added it to my son’s IEP!
3; Take Your Own Notes;
~Ensure Information Is Written In A Language You Understand
~Key Points YOU Find Necessary Are Documented
~Most Parents Are Told To Not Worry About This As Someone Else Is ~Taking Notes For The Team
4; Bring Your Child’s Picture With You To The Meeting
Humanizes Everything Discussed
Put’s A Face To The Plan
The Meeting Is FOR Your Child
Reference This Picture Frequently
I know what you’re thinking… but, Luke, those secrets aren’t completely shocking!
While this is true, these four items will go further in ensuring your child gets the services they need to be successful, then understanding every single acronym used in special education… and we all know there are a LOT of those!
Most parents put way too much faith in a broken, under-resourced system, that is not designed in the way a non-expert can understand…
Since you can’t take a USB drive, plug it into your head, and instantly learn everything about special education… the next best approach is to ask, ask, ask, and continue to ask questions of the experts until you have the clarity you need…
If parents would follow these simple, yet super effective strategies…
As I mentioned at the beginning of this video, we created a program to take your understanding and advocation for your child to the next level!
Imagine, having an expert right next to you… it truly can change everything!
If you have additional questions;
Please email me directly; Luke@SpecialEdResource.com
From all of us at SpecialEdResource.com - Thank YOU for watching this episode of Special Education Decoded!
For a free tutoring consultation... check this out! specialedresource.com/free-co...
My Daughter has gone through this EXACT SAME THING! PLUS on TOP of that being BULLIED the entire time!! And I would even go to the school and speak with counselor and Principal and Teachers every year!!!! When in 8th Grade she was on a 504 finally, I sat with the Principal more then once and asked if we could do more for my Daughter, Answer being NO, I went to Administrative office and sat with the Superintendent and Attendant Principal and they helped get he what she needed. The IEP that was implemented was terrible I heard nothing but "We dont do that, we cant do that" from the team, and mainly Principal. This year, I took an Advocate that did nothing and I do mean Nothing, but I have been doing nothing but looking up IEP info for months. I PUSHED, ASKED, and said NO to alot, Until this IEP is for my child!!!!!
Check this out: Some students in the IEP are gifted and if you don't ask the school or do an evaluation of IQ the school will not consider your child as gifted and only mention their disability. Some of these kids have fallen behind because they are not challenged enough and fall down the cracks in education, all this time the parents never knew their kids were gifted because they think IEP is only for kids with learning disabilities.
FACTS!!! And that is why their diagnosis trumps your doctors diagnosis... and why they do psych evaluation on EVERY kid as that is what determines the "diagnosis" ... all other disabilities are "auxiliary" ...
I signed an IEP but was left confused and didn't agree to everything. I just felt like I had to. Imagine walking into a meeting with 4 team members from the school and its just you by yourself. Its so sad 😢😢😢
Another strategy I’ve used is calling them out on contradictions. They will say your child is doing well, but at the same time say they’re not doing well...it’s like which one is it guys?
So true!! So frustrating!!
well, a child can be doing well academically but poorly behaviorally
@@th0w3 this is definitely true, but if they are saying everything is ok because academics are ok, what plans are there for the behavior or social? Often, the team will overlook that part if the academics are good. They will use the grades to say your child is accessing the curriculum. However, time on the playground/at lunch etc...is all part of the curriculum.
Hello , what does tier 3 program mean?
So true. Sadly, this is my sons current circumstance in his 1st grade class
I had to act like a lawyer since my child was being bullied by 2 staff members & 2 students. She's to have no contact. This was put into her IEP. She started school & 1 one the student bullies is in 4 of her classes. We are having another meeting. The evil is learning that this mother educated herself. They broke 4 federal laws & 1 state 1. They are trying to sweep this under the rug. They tried to bully me, limit my IEP meeting. Limit my days freedom of speech &they don't like that I told them that they don't trump her Constitutional Rights or my parental rights. They told me to back off from my kids education.
I make contact in evaluating form so it's writing, which the school doesn't like. They want phone call because there's no record of it that I can take to court. I also tell them that in IEP meetings I am recording so that I can have my husband can hear the meeting as well as my child since they can come.
It's amazing how much the schools aren't for your kids yet they want the money your kids IEP brings in.
Wow same is happening to me i just had to revoke services due to them not helping my son to begin with
For me, the most important thing I need going into an IEP meeting is a copy of the proposed IEP at least 2 days prior to the meeting. Keep meticulous records. You will mess up and make mistakes. I have allowed some wording to go into IEPs that allowed the school to wiggle out of providing necessary services. That is okay. Call a meeting to discuss the problem and get that wording changed. Do not allow the school to continuously put that off.
can you give an example of wording that gets them to wiggle out of providing necessary services?
Being a special educator for the past 23 years, this suprised me. I am so thankful when parents (and students) come into an IEP with an interest in asking questions and connecting with the team as they are the MOST important member of the team. Time is always against us, but if for some reason we run out of time, I reschedule for a continuation meeting until the parents and student feels as though they are clear and comfortable with the propsed plan. My suggestion to all parents is to stay connected, communicating regularly with the team members giving services to your child. You've got this!
Unfortunately this isn't the case in many-many of the families experiences.
Your 1 in 10,000,000.
You a rarity for sure!
I had to hire advocates to fight my daughters school though out her years in school. Needless to say my advocates always won. It’s disgusting how much money I had to spend to make sure my daughter got what she needed.
how did you find advocates for your child? i have been looking for one for my son and have no clue where to look or how to find one?
Hello! Did you have to pay for the advocates?
@@sashafierce3715 -yes
I’m currently going thru this for my almost 8 year old. I’m honestly disgusted with her school.
@@cgeorge3232 -I understand. I can’t tell you things will get better. What I can say is don’t get ulcers over the stress like I did. Hire an advocate when you just can’t take it anymore. They aren’t lawyers even though they do exist. Depending on your state there is help for you. Many advocates will teach you the laws that protect you and your child. Schools abbreviate important terms we need to understand. They try to confuse us and knock us off the task we’re fighting for. Never give up nor back down!
My favorite thing they try to do is pretend they know what’s best my child better than myself. Mine is currently in cyber school through the state with an IEP in general classes; due to how these IEP “team members” act towards us, it’s gonna be me teaching him with our own homeschool curriculum because he is that advanced and able to do the schoolwork. They’re just mad we are refusing to put him in full time autistic support when he doesn’t need it - he may be somewhat verbal (he communicates via communication device), but he is more than capable of doing the schoolwork. I was robbed an education for an IEP that wasn’t needed (thanks to my narcissistic mother, I also because she is Munchausen By Proxy) and I refuse to allow that to happen with my child! My husband and I do not tolerate such behavior from the IEP “team members” (quotes for a reason).
My mom's side of the family is racked with mental/learning disabilities (family history of it to be specific), I understand your pain with IEP and how your mother poorly handled it. I can relate because my mom has Bipolar and didn't care about my worries with IEP whilst telling me ''you're going to be fine after high school''.
My child is behind but not disabled and they want him to have an iep. I keep refusing to do it. I'm worried if I am making the right decision because I do want him to have extra help to get him caught up but at what price? He says he hates being in that special class. He ends up fighting with other kids and hating school. When I pulled him out he does excellent in regular class but they keep saying hes more behind then other kids. I refuse to let them throw him around. He keeps trying his best and that should be enough.
Hi I have a question they can’t make your child have a iep right ?
@@ahhlamara5306 No they can't. It is the parent's decision.
I have the same issue with my son in kindergarten. They said he didn’t need it but recommended it for an extra help to keep him on track. This is the second quarter of school and looking at his report card he was excelling first quarter and now after being in an iep he is below average. I’m so confused and frustrated as to why this would be if he’s getting extra help.
It's a corrupt system. My son has worked so hard and is finally caught up but every year, every teacher still wants to give him an iep. It's all about money. It's not about our children's best interest. They get paid thousands more dollars for each child with iep. My son's reading level went from kindergarten to 4th grade level by not giving up. Don't let them do it. Once they have an iep and are put in the special class with the others, it's down hill from there. Behavior problems, calls from principal, worse grades, you name it. When my son is in regular class he does excellent. I was so proud my son passed the 4th grade test in summer school. Yet when I met his new teacher this year, she still wanted to put him in iep. I was hurt and angry. They treat us parents like we are stupid. The teachers that truly care are rare and even then they push an unknown agenda. Iep deteriorates our children's education.
Ok so what if I don't agree to an IEP and don't want him to have an IEP? Then what? Will they take no for an answer!
I want to get my child out of this iep he started just for speech and now 2 years later he speaks great but there's always something they need to work on to keep my child in the program. I don't want my child to fall behind and ultimately need the iep for more than just the speech my child started with.
I wish that I had this information when my son was still in school but so grateful that I have access to it now that my grandchildren are starting school. Thank you so much for this channel.
Wow, that's some great Information you really went deep into details
ShanAcy... I'm glad the information helped :)
Omg it only gets better!!! Thank you for the content you are a blessing brother🙌🏽
My sons safety is my concern at this point. My son is getting evaluated for an IEP right now and the school will not provide him with any additional supervision until then therefore he is eloping from the school onto the parking lot.
The same thing is happening to my grandson.
I’m sorry to hear that. I am trying to get everything documented and I’m going to take legal action. I also contacted the department of education and the media.
Same documenting everything. My grandsons Peditrician dx him with ADHD and ODD last week. He is 5 in kindergarten he has been suspended 3 times since school started.
You should ask to get an assessment for 1:1 , my son elopes and has no sense of danger, I'm waiting right now for the school district decision ,
you are a tax payer sit in his classroom until they hear you.
love love love this video!!! mind blowing editing
Thank you, Ashley! Glad you were able to take some information from the video :)
My PPT is this Tuesday. I feel prepared thanks to this video. New subscriber. Thank you
So true, I have observed every one of these points and many more
Thank you so much!
I use to think I was on a island. Reading these comments, im not the only one.
As a level 4 student, all I gotta say is from personal experience is that level 4 is almost the worst setting you can be in. Whether it be disrespect from the teachers themselves or then manipulating everyone you talk to, to make it seem like you're the one with the problem
Bro honestly iep just sucks overall
@@black_mamba1871 really is. I had to drop out for my mental health cause of it
@@alonelemming1 same dawg I remember they would make me feel stupid and wanting a useless meeting with my parents every year just so the teachers never show up it’s stupid and waste of time bro
@@black_mamba1871 I started to end up in fist fights with 3 teachers at the same time every week. Dropping out and getting my ged was the best thing I could do
I can so totally relate. My teachers were mean to me. I was never treated fairly like other "normal students". My teachers always gave me a had time. They claim I was faking my own disability. I had an IEP/ 504. I have very bad anxiety and bad depression. I had a troubling childhood that wasn't even my fault.
I just want the same classes my friends have
Had my first IEP meeting and whenever I asked a question, I was given a pamphlet/ booklet and told to just read it. That's ok but I felt like my questions were disregarded. Glad I took good notes.
I’d hire an advocate to fight for your child’s right. I did this and we never got dismissed and they had to do as we said. Advocates know the law without having to call a lawyer. Best money I ever spent. But I hated having to go to this extreme
I reached out to a non-profit organization - Federation for children with special needs located in Boston, MA. Might be different for other states. They helped me tremendously by giving me a list of different advocates. Some advocates were costly and some went by your income.
Good luck!!
Thanks. I'm in Boston and will contact them too.
The school my kid went to for general kindergarten said they didn't have the recourses to continue her education. They recommended structured learning. So she's in a new school now. Nothing but worksheets for the 1st week. I'm literally about to pull her out of public school.
They get money if the can place the kid on a iep plan(special education).
Just finding this channel & it's true, many times parents feelings & what they say is brushed aside. Just happened the other day in a mid year PPT to me.
My daughter has been experiencing problems from day 1 of entering kindergarten. She had to repeat kindergarten due to the academic system that she is unable to understand. Her 1st grade teacher was unaware of her repeating kindergarten and I was told to request to have her tested. When I did exactly what she told me the school’s principal l, her teachers, and even the psychologist argued that my daughter does not need extra help with her classes. My daughter consistently keeps getting suspended and since the IEP has been established she is unable to get services if she is away from school. I spoke with an advocate that was referred by her juvenile counselor and she told me to have it in writing what mental health she suffers from because without that in writing the school will lie and act like she is receiving services and whole time they’re telling me a lie to hush me up. So I will have my daughter evaluated by a mental health expert and she exactly where she stands medical wise.
Ask for an evaluation. If they deny you, you can tell them you want an independent Education Evaluation (IEE). This will be at no expense to you, it will show your daughter has mental illness, and the school HAS to consider it with the IEP. If she has an IEP, she is covered under the IDEIA 2004, if not (still in progress) I would get a section 504 filled out so they can’t discriminate against disability!
Thank you. I subscribed.
What can I do if a school doesn't have a teacher qualified to teach a student with ADHD and a IEP?
I like your style. I failed and dropped out because I failed Spanish class and never received special education in that class. Then in afterwards in GED school they told me I couldn't use my IEP paperwork. Which stated I could use a calculator and it is all I have learned math with since elementary. I'm still very heart broken 10 years later that I've never been able to experience prom. but more hurt about not being able to go to college.
Wow! I am a Spanish teacher and wish you had been my student. I have worked with Special ED students. I had a student from Nicaragua who was illiterate in his own native language. I worked very hard with his mom. (I insisted to attend the IEP meeting, even though one of the specialists was fluent in Spanish.) She said the schools in her village were horrible. I had a friend who worked with dyslexic students and I got some great tips from her. I also had English speaking Spanish students who had trouble reading. (I helped this child not only improve his Spanish vocabulary, but English also by teaching cognates, -words similar in English and Spansih in context. He improved overall in his Spanish and English classes. Again, I had the parent involved who was eager to assist.)
Hello I am trying to get transportation for my son from home to school and I asked for a another IEP meeting to request transportation since transportation was not brought up in the first initial IEP meeting.
YES!!!!! LOVED THIS!
Help!! We need help for my niece at a public school she doesn’t even want to go to school very frustrating 🙄
How can I revoke IEP? Do I need a written letter from us or do I obtain the form from the school? I live in California
You have to understand some of the parents is come a is putting it through the disability as well as the child and a lot of the parents doesn’t understand a lot of things that you guys are trying to put through through the special Ed program you need to have some people there to explain to the parent what the child will be going through I should know I used to be a child going through the special ed back in the 1960s to 1980 and graduated but a lot of people don’t have that support as they grow up thank you
When he said I’m hoping you can help HELL YEAH!! 👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽👍🏽
Thanks
My grandson is in the 8th grade they used the every child succeeds line, we fought and fought to hold him back. We desperately need help. Their is no transition or post yransition goals, thet pushed him into the 8th grade. They laugh and don't take us serious in the meetinge. Need your link please.
Good advice
Also, if your child is able to come to the meeting, then bring them! They're the expert on the meeting's topic: them!
my child goes to the meeting with me all the time!! but I still feel like the plan we had for the past 3 years is disappointing! I don’t want my child to not be able to get a diploma! It’s the weirdest thing i questioned on the IEP ! I always disagree with that statement! But I also question my child and myself… is she ever going to be verbal… !? is she ever going to use the restroom on her own ? Can she really graduate from High school with her diploma!!!? it’s discouraging at times but thanks for the advice!
If you disagree with the IEP DO NOT SIGN IT CALL YOUR DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION IN YOUR STATE
Totally agree but unfortunately in some states like mine( wisconsin ) the IEP does not need to be signed. I don’t know how Wisconsin is getting away with that, since it the IEP is legal document and how do they prove that it it is a collaborative process? Which it is not .
Hi I just watch your video I wanted to know how do you get a one on one teacher for your child
i do not see any link...i have one question...what do we actually have to write in our form for mediation to request a stay put???
Karelann Herkaler if a service is not listed as transitional etc...then it is stay put. That means if they try to take it away and you don’t want them to take it away, you can disagree with the IEP and write it in the comments. If you sign that you completely disagree with an IEP, the last “agreed upon” IEP remains the active one. Just don’t sign partial agree.
IEP is designed to make teacher non accountable for your child. Monitor achievement if entered into an IEP and you have a right to remove to IEP at any time
That's just not true... I am an intervention specialist and I am legally bound to what I put in the IEPs. IEPs hold teachers and other members of the team accountable. But yes, an IEP can be amended at any time during a team meeting and not without parent permission. Hope that helps!
My issues is the districts answer to any request by me or the school is funding, however their budget has been increased and they got more admin and buildings.
Thank you we having a meeting today im nervous but thank you for the video
Can you homeschool with a IEP ?
Record every IEP! Camera!
My son yesterday, the school decided to put him on IEP program.
I like this video and it seems to be really good advice from someone genuinely interested in improving the special ed/IEP programs.
That being said, I don't understand the advice with "bringing the picture of your child to the IEP meetings." Has anyone tried this? I'd like to understand more about this specific advice because I simply don't understand it.
I don't either because everyone at the meeting should know the child.
My son is in fourth grade most of the time in the general classroom and 30 minutes in the special class. The general class teacher doesn’t let him do all the work and she tells him that he goes to the special class . She broke my son and I am fighting with the school but no one cares. What do you think I should do.
Pull him out!
How much is it for your services?
Same here
I'm getting my son tested tomorrow for covid-19 because of school department says they're following the covid-19 protocol so I will be following my own protocol and get him tested a very upset concerning parent that's dealing with the school department and which I don't feel we have any help with Holyoke school department
My dad has my mom who is a special education teacher who knows everything about me at my meeting for iep
I have a question pertaining my daughter's iep. Idk where to go, they didn't provide my daughter with iep services. Now they are bribing me with "hours" for reimbursement. Idk where to go.
Keri Decker it depends on whether you spent any actual money to provide the services yourself. If so, I would say they should reimburse you for what you paid. Otherwise, it’s usually compensatory hours. I can’t stand compensatory hours because if your child has a lot of services, there’s almost no time in the day to make up for the time lost. That’s exactly why a lot of districts are withholding services in the pandemic. It’s not like there’s any real consequence.
I have so many questions! The school filabustered by going over things until no time left. They said they had no funding for getting her a tutor. They really had nothing extra to support kids. They also kept interrupting me, and so i said i am leaving, and then they wrote I had to be escorted out in the records and sent it to the hospital she went to as if I was a problem. I was trying to find where and what they said, and did a FOIA request, but they sent the wrong time frame records. They were evil. Want more kids in special ed i think for funding. I knew my rights but it didn't help.
Have you contacted your CRC for your area?
this is great do you have any advocates that can help me thanks Anna
How to know laws & guidelines in the EC classroom
My child started virtual/online speech therapy last Thursday, Sept. 31 and the therapist cut the time short to 10 minutes. While my child's IEP said 15 minutes ones a week. This was the first session this school year. Is there any excuse for cutting the therapy short and not following the IEP? I called and mentioned this to the VP right about the same time when the therapist concluded the session, and the vice principal said sometimes in speech therapy the students are told to work independently. I don't know what to think. It just didn't sound right to me. I was at my child's side without having show my face in the computer's camera when the therapist dismissed the session, and when I looked at my clock it only took 10 minutes.
I would ask the speech therapist for clarification (without accusing them of anything). If this is the first time happening... there perhaps was a reason that you weren't made aware of? My recommendation is always start conversations with a new provider using the assumption that they have the best intentions. Simply because most people truly do want to help children... From there... work up the "chain of command." Hope that helps...
Just voice a concern to the therapist-I'm sure they would be more mindful the next time!
Please help me. My son put on SEND as they said in the nursery he don't concentration for more than 4min and some time he is to high with his excitement. But I am not agree with this as he do his all tasks at home very well . What I have to do with all of this now
Nursery? How old is your child?
Do you have a video or info on how to or what to do to take a child off an IEP so I can just get child a math tutor instead of be on IEP?
I’m tryna take my son off his IEP once I have more info I will leave it here
@@divinelashay333 Hi, Were you able to remove your child from iep? Want to know if you have succeeded.. hoping so!
@@tuftoffy HI yes I took him out of IEP successfully and he is now in a home school program and I see tremendous progress in his confidence and abilities today he didn’t even ask me for help at all hope this helps ;)
I'm unable to attend the Zoom meeting for my 11th graders ARD. As always, they provide the date and time. Throughout the years, I've had to request a different date so I can attend. Never a problem. They won't reschedule it and want to proceed without me. They can’t do that without my consent, can they? I'm not even requesting a day that's past the due date from last year's ARD.
No they can’t
My tablet wasnt working for me to have my ARD they call me on Google meet or i called the second time for my other child.
Hi Lisa
Hello! They give you 3 dates or you pick the dates and time. I have had school pick 3 dates and time. Turn around tell me if I don't show up. They are starting meeting without me.
Also, you should do some research on retention. It is not an effective way to try and help kids that are behind catch up.
Angelica, thank you for your feedback. Would you please provide more detail?
Thank you now I know I am not crazy
Karina, you are most certainly not :)
I just subscribed to your channel. Then I watched this video. This attitude and misinformation about how the people on an IEP team, because they happen to be professionals, are out to trick parents is disingenuous. If your wife is in special education you should remember that you're speaking about her intentions as well. I am a school psychologist. My program constantly reiterated that we are required to write reports in a way that parents can understand. We go out of our way to rephrase while trying to strike a balance between what parents can understand (with the various education levels and language barriers we encounter) and a legally defensible report. In every IEP meeting that I have ever been in special education teachers and school psychologists go out of their way to explain the reports. A parent's intimidation about the meeting is not the fault of the team members who are sitting there trying to answer questions. Moreover the idea of bringing a picture to the IEP meeting is fine however at a certain age especially, a middle school and up, students are brought into the meeting and are invited to offer their input. In my mind that outweighs a picture. Moreover, most school systems have databases that include the child's pictures. The special education teacher, the general education teacher and school psychologist have spent a significant amount of time with the student in question. We are all in this field in order to advocate for the best outcomes of the students. You mentioned appropriately that we often work with a restrictive amount of resources. We cannot readily offer services that we cannot readily access. School psychologist and special education teachers are taught in their programs that parents are an important part of the IEP team. Sadly, many parents opt not to involve themselves. If you are reading this, the best way to advocate for your kids is to think of yourself as part of a team working for the best interests of your child. That means you have responsibility to invest yourself in the process. It doesn't need to be oppositional sometimes it does go that way but it doesn't have to start out that way. Get to know the real human people out there working for your child and assess whether they're in it for the money, which is often times laughable, or if they're in it because they want to make a difference and advocate for your kids. I hated the school system growing up and I became a school psychologist because I saw places where I could advocate for the student that I was. I am in no way intrested in screwing over parents or their kids and neither are most of the amazing people that I work with.
Nomi, I appreciate your comment greatly! You are absolutely correct in how things SHOULD be. You are absolutely right when you discuss how TEACHERS are the difference makers in an IEP process. You accurately describe how under-resourced teachers are everywhere.
You reiterated almost everything described in the video. The problem is that for an IEP to be accurate and for the parents to fully understand everything in it... that burden falls 100% on the teachers (and IEP team). The school system doesn't hold a training class on "IEP 101," or even attempt to teach the basics to parents.
When you have a parent who does not understand special education terminology at all (most parents I have ever come across)... they don't know what questions they should be asking. That parent wouldn't know if the plan is best for their child, or not.
If, in this scenario, you have a teacher who's reaching the point of burnout due to the under-resourced nature of the school system; there's no one left to create accurate goals, to make sure communication is flowing with parents, and to ensure that specific child is genuinely getting everything they need (and by law deserve) to be successful.
Regarding the picture... it helps to humanize the meeting. You did an accurate job of stating the obvious (the school system has a picture), but failed to recognize that when discussing goals, challenges, and other items that will literally steer a child's educational path for an entire year... it helps for them to "be present." When a child is young, actually attending a meeting isn't always the best option. This way, if there is a "discussion" on what's best... everyone in the room can remember who they are fighting for.
Again, thank you for your feedback and willingness to discuss this important topic further.
I just attended an initial IEP today. There are BAD politics behind things. The case manager tried to get me to sign an IEP weeks ago without having eval reports or having the meeting. Reports were not sent to me 10 days in advance. My input was disregarded. My son has multiple disabilites. The district wants to keep him in a public school that has limited ramps and not one child like him is in the special ed disabilities class. Early Intervention informed me a long time ago the public school is not the place for my son. The social worker was the kindess atendee for the district but she told us today after the meeting she is leaving to go work for a better district. I paid just to have an advocate present now I need a lawyer. Finances play a huge part at the expense of our children. LRE does not mean put him in a class with verbal and mobile 3 year olds when he is non verbal and cannot walk. I am very upset.
Thank you for this comment. Completely agree. This video is doing a disservice to the parents by victimizing them instead of empowering to be responsible. Mother was invited to a meeting once in three years? Why is she not requesting an IEP? She can get one within 10 days at any time she wants. People need to learn their rights. Somehow they will read a lease agreement for their appartment, but not read the parental rights in regards to their child's education... let's, everybody, do our part and stay positive and constructive.
I have “asked” the school and the principal for an IEP for my son on 8 different occasions. They told me no and offered no other alternatives. My son has severe anxiety which causes huge communication issues with his teachers. Furthermore my son has a medical condition in which he is physically sick every day. I can’t explain the struggle he has been through and the struggle as a parent wanting to help so badly and can’t. The school says NO and it ends there. Obviously I have talked with them more than once and this problem has carried on since 4th grade for him. As a parent I am broken over this. 😭. So this type of thing does happen, to good people. And we don’t have anyone to help.
@@mrs.hspages3044 not everyone knows thats even an option. many parents kind of think the school is in charge and in many ways they are. nobody told me there were other options than the nothing they offered us. how was i to know it was even a thing? Its not like i grew up in special education my own school experience was completely different. If its my job to educate my child then maybe the district should pay me to stay home jobless.and educating myself on how to make sure they do their own jobs i guess
If I ever have a child I’ll do EVERYTHING in my power to make sure they are not on an IEP.
THANK YOU OH MY GOD. I WISH MY PARENTS WERE LIKE YOU, I AM TRYING EVERYTHING TO GET OUT. It just isn’t working and my iep doesnt help, my grades are all good
@@thomas6814 well depending on what grade your in it might be to late. If that is the case I wouldn’t really stress about it at all. Once high school is over all that iep shit will go away. If I were you I’d start preparing for life after high school earlier and don’t let the iep stuff get in your head. I was in special Ed from 1st grade until the end of high school and still got a bachelors degree so I’m a living example of those teachers not knowing what they are talking about
Then your child won’t receive special education services...
@@Nobody-wo5mb good that shit doesn’t help in the real world or college all it does is destroy a child’s confidence and bring them to a life time of working a minimum wage job if my child just has ADHD or a learning disability there’s no way in hell I’d allow that over my dead body I don’t care if we got to be in the library studying every day or I have to hire a private tutor.
@@Nobody-wo5mb what are these magical special education services everyone talks about because our school doesnt do squat. they actually requested i homeschool
Iam. Fromer. Sped. Student. I. Was. Rob. From. Being. Able. To. Take. Band. In. High school. They. Told. Me. That. I. Was. Not. Allow. To. Take. Band. In. High. School. Just. Because. I. Was. In. Sped. Classes
What if the school refuses an IEP. Like refuses all 8 times I’ve asked? My son has severe anxiety which affects his communication with teachers. He also has a medical issue where he is physically sick every day. I have asked and ASKED and then asked why are you refusing an IEP for my son. The last answer I got” an IEP is ONLY for students who can not understand the work and have mental illness. What do I do now?
th-cam.com/video/PM2ebKO7yYM/w-d-xo.html Check out this video. There's a copy of the letter in the description.
Write a letter to the school requesting an assessment for special education. The school legally has 15 calendar days to respond to your request with an assessment plan or a prior written notice
Use the term emotional disturbance (category under IDEA that he could qualify for services under) -it could fall under that category or anxiety could fall under -other health impairment-say you have diagnosis. Look up -Disability categories under IDEA-request the assessment
This what im.going through
This is exactly what's going on with me and my son's school! Especially when English is not your native language!! Frustrating!!
YES THIS IS WHERE I AM! Help!!
or any advocate referral will help. Thank you
Reina, were you able to find the assistance you needed? I never saw an email come through, so wanted to be sure you found what you were looking for.
My 12 yr old has never been to public school. He's years behind. I've been told he has to be enrolled for 6 mo's before he can get an IEP. Is this true?
I'm a sped teacher... send a letter requesting an iep.. they have 30 days to hold one.
How do you get out of IEP
That's what I'd like to know also
dont put your kids in sped in the frist place home school them or in church school or somethng like that
its so overwhelming. I am being asked to waive FAPE.
Please don't do that. It protects you and your child.
My child he is in a six grade. In specially education resources where they come and help them twice a day that’s it. This is the problem he has a second grade reading level and is strangling and classes. He has a high IQ when it comes to working on the computer. So The school board says his IQ is too high to be put in full-Time special education. What can I do to convince them that he does need to be in the full-time special education. I’ve been strangling with this fight for years. Please help
That is the problem. I have seen students where many educators feel they need more time in a special ed program, but there are tests and guidelines wer're told, that the child does not qualify for.
So my seventh grader is academically wise like a fourth grader, and exactly what this man said happened happened to me in the IUP. I couldn’t understand me myself I probably was a special-needs child myself because I was taught at home and I had a lot of problems. Learn disabilities as a child myself but it’s true. They say that for me not to take notes that they have somebody taking notes they had told me one of the psychologist told me not to tell them about my daughters autism because then she’s going to be labeled, and that is the worst advice I ever took, and I regret it so bad, because I had no idea That I could’ve got help earlier and sooner for my daughters education here she is scared to death telling me that the statistics say that she’s probably gonna end up being a crackhead and she’s had the worst experiences for teachers. One of her teachers took her desk away and made her pick up garbage just so she could get drinking water During the heat wave is ridiculous. These teachers and they are using their corporal punishment in the classroom. I believe everything that My Daughter tells me was going on at school, and I had brought it up to the school district myself. The teachers that they are putting they’re just not educated nor do they care. It’s true at IUP meetings I’ve had the Special Education department Lady tell me that she had to go somewhere else it’s like I was pushed under the rug. My my case was like nothing nobody cared and so here my babies going through the loops through the holes of she’s going to become an adult soon and she doesn’t have the appropriate skills life skills. Also, I was working for IHSS and they cut my hours because she turned 13 in the social worker straight up told me That at 13 years old they cut those services so now I’ve been struggling because my daughter does need supervision but the court the judge when I appeal the court case he denied it he believed the social worker and so now that I started working and I can’t work because the school is calling me because they can’t handle My Daughter because the IUP that I haven’t process her teachers are, not obeying how can I say not not but they’re not giving her her rights that’s why we had that meeting so she can have those her needs taken care of so she can learn but it’s like a power struggle there at that school that she goes to. Unfortunately the school has failed My Daughter I have no one that I can go to to help me and my situation and I do feel like I dropped the ball because also in one of the IUP meetings, her teacher told me that he didn’t have to go. I never understood what IUP was and how it’s there to help your child get a better education if they have a learning disability And I did I was a friend with the teacher because I thought he actually had her best interest but come to find out after that IEP and her going into junior high she didn’t know nothing she’s behind and everything and it does. It does hurt it hurts because you feel like you failed your child I’m sorry for my texting it’s really awful but as you can see, we all have our issues. I stayed home three years. I was a licensed manicurist and I had to stay home and put my career on the side and ran out rooms just so I can survive so I can go to school with my daughter make sure that she was treated with respect and treated with dignity just because she was in special ed, and still to this date I’m having problems working because have phone calls every day messages every day from the school they can’t handle her I bring it up to the district. It’s just an awful thing her IUP the three year valuation is coming up soon I am blinded. I really appreciate your videos.
I would LOVE to connect!!
Hi I live in state of NV, I’m in DESPERATE need of an advocate. Please please help
Have you found help? Any info u can pass along?
Do you mind answering a few questions 🥺
hi luke!
I used to be in a Ed class
Thank you for sharing, sir
They need ieps to fund sports programs and 4 million dollar sports faculties
My son is no longer in school because of an issue he does have a IEP he is autistic with ADHD but because he was misbehaving not obeying the covid-19 rules he is now to be at home what are my rights
Can I bring my freshman to the IEP meeting?
Absolutely!
Yes- they should start working on post-secondary transition goals that he should be a part of creating. --employment, college, independent living skills, goals for drivers license --whatever applies for your child
What is a IEP Amendment
An IEP amendment is where either the school team or the parents seek to edit the IEP and to officially change the document in some way. The IEPs are usually locked after the meeting and can only be opened again if an official amendment is requested. Parents have to consent and an admin from the school has to sign of on it too.
Some laws need to be reformed be changed because they give privilege to religious people, note many of those religious private schools end up discriminating against disabled people based on IEP, and many of those religious special needs schools don't even keep them in k12, so can literally so they're not even following the appropriate structured system to make sure that the student to make it to college. Not to mention some of these religious special ed schools make it next to impossible to pass Adult Ed, because neither the religious private school nor the adult ed program is following the K through 12 system, and most of these students should have made it into K-12 public school. And now require being placed back in that same sort of K-12 system as an adult because they taken out of it as a child, and this is because Adult Ed doesn't provide 12-month semester classes that are for single grades, which is what they need.
You also have a right to record the meeting. Just be sure to let the IEP team know 24 hours in advance.
Yes!!! I am on my husband's profile but I have twin disabled sons who are high functioning, they were far beyond their class. I was a single mom at the time and omg did the school pull the wool over my eyes. I separated my sons Into two different schools when they were in elementarybecause they wouldargue and fight. So one stayed with my mom in the next town over. She never had custodyand the schools knew and agreed they needed to be separated. I was a mom that always had questions. I looked everything up. I asked about my rights. I was a nurse that specialized with kids with special needs so I was educated but I just didn't know the school would lie, hurt my kids, withhold educating and mainstreaming them. Then one day on an ARD meeting with my son staying with my mom, the diagnostician stopped me physically blocking me from entering the school saying only my mom could attend. I immediately contacted my aunt who was an advocate years earlier for her son and we called another Ard meeting in which she attended with us and she ripped into that diagnostician. She named off some of our rights that they never informed us of and a few other things. After that I contacted a man who taught advocacy and it was well worth it. I became my kids advocate. The first time I recorded that meeting was the first time I saw a proper ARD meeting. I went for blood too. I asked to be informed of my rights right then and there. I learned I could write on the IEP,s, "I do not agree. My sons have known there alphabet and 1-10" for years now and they said it would be confusing the rest of the class to only continue for one child. I also wrote I wanted them to be taught reading writing and math, not laundry, sweeping, dishes because I obviously had already taught them that. They were in jr high at this time. They still ignored the IEP. That summer my now husband and I pulled them out of summer school and set up math and reading writing lesson plans. We taught them like a regular class would operate just slower paced. When school started back one of my sons could sound out simple words but most surprising was he was adding and subtracting problems way beyond I had hoped for. 854 minus 467. My other son had begun sounding out letters and was recognizing words but he was much more behind. He also learned some simple addition and how to tell time. That first ARD meeting my more advanced son, he had the same teacher, she comes in waving a math practice booklet. She said my son asked if he could work on it so she gave it to him. She opened it excitedly showing how he was adding now. So I told her, oh so you haven't seen him subtract too and larger numbers, count money, tell time, and read? We taught them over the summer. Also, I want him mainstreamed immediately. Least restrictive environment remember? You all didn't even try to teach them. They labeled both with IQs of 44 because of a speech disorder. They have a processing disorder and it severely affected how the understood language. Once it was diagnosed (I had fought this 44 IQ for years) we started seeing specialists and they had to be taught differently. I took them to a specialist for another IQ test and then even got a third opinion. They had IQ,s over 80. They couldn't be sure at the time because their speech was still so bad that she couldn't understand their answers. Now my boys are 25 and yes they still have problems with speech but just pronunciation they do have some social skills problems and can't drive.. They do cook, clean, walk next door and shop. They can live in their own house as long as we live next door. People ended up losing their jobs over so.e of the worst of what happened to my kids. Teachers came forward about even worse things and even the bus driver to me. I won't go into that but it was horrible. Thanks to those recordings though, I was able to call CPS on them. I tried the police, the news, the paper, lawyers and I finally thought I may as well call CPS. Surprise surprise, she went after them and brought everything to light. So there is another tip In case anyone needs it. Child protective services can help if there is abuse and they hide it. I'm so glad they are out of school. God bless everyone who are going through problems with their child's school.
@@Haplo-xf6mu hello. I have twins and pre k in who have IEP. I'm already experiencing trouble. They're in the same classroom because the school they go to this year only has one three year old class. The teacher told me today if they have a rough day, I would have to pick them up early. I was told by someone else that she can't do that if they have an IEP. I'm contemplating about switching schools, but I don't want to keep switching schools whenever there's an issue.
Where does it say 24 hour notice? I always go into the meeting and bring out my recorder and say I will be recording this meeting. The school records too. The school can not dispute what they said.
@@Angela-ks1pm I was just told by attorney at one point 24 hour notice should be given. I actually gave notice one time for an IEP that I would be recording and once I got to the IEP, on zoom, I reminded the team I would be recording the meeting. Somehow they didn’t get the message that I would be recording and they actually tried to keep me from recording the meeting. I fought them on it and they said oh go ahead and record. I’ve been in some pretty nasty meetings. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever been to a single productive IEP meeting in the 6 years I’ve been doing this. The IEP teams out here are snakes going through the motions, without regard for the needs of my child.
My team told me they didn't want to put his ADHD on his IEP because it would Harm him later in sports. Said ADHD isnt a qualification for curb to curb services alone. And refused to answer my questions.
That's bs, my child has ADHD and she has an IEP... The fun part is that her IEP constantly mentions to redirect and follow oral directions with written directions... Yet I received TONS of emails every yr about teachers complaining about what they have to do. It's never ending and now I know why parents dislike dealing with teachers.
It won’t harm him later in sports - if anything it’ll help if he goes to college because of regulations on medication for students with adhd
Also- under the IDEIA 2004, ADHD is protected and eligible under the “other health department” category and has access to FAPE, especially since the IEP is the blueprint of your child’s FAPE (free appropriate public education). You can say they’re endangering his procedural rights because he has adhd and it is not documented in the IEP --
The ONLY reason they don’t want to put it in the IEP would be because the IEP is a legal contract and the assessment has to lead to intervention (a service). I would be on them and press.
@@PvaluelessthanpointzerooneWhat assessment are you referring? When say lead the services, what do you mean?
Hello. Thank you for this video. Are you or your wife in Los Angeles? can you guys help me? I am about to sign my son IEP documents for evaluation …
Reina... I apologize for not seeing this faster! Has the IEP been signed? If you're looking for specific feedback on it... please send us an email - contact@SpecialEdResource.com and we can most certainly help!
Did you sign it? If so do you regret it? I’m debating if I should sign it now.
Mu child was in the meeting
Love the strategy of bull by the hones!!
Public system want to stone wall and do less then the minimum amount of work !!
I got a question do a kid with iep have to pay for college?
Yes, they will usually have to pay for college just like everyone else. There might be programs or scholarships available for students with exceptionalities AND they might get more federal aid depending on parent income or disability. Be sure to keep the copy of the IEP that is current when your student graduates high school, as that is the IEP that will follow them to higher education. Make sure all the appropriate accommodations are in the IEP so that the student can continue to have those in college. Once the student has decided on a school, get in touch with the schools disability office, as they are usually the ones who have more resources and next steps. I really hope this helps!
Asian parents be like seriously I don’t want to hear them keeping secrets from us again.
Me be like: 🤯🤯🤯🤯
Glad you were able to get some information from the video :)
I have question. I know many Asian Americans who are very strict on their child's education. How would it be excepted if the school wants to put your child in special education?
Those were mostly obvious tips, not secrets, not anything that’s going to make another IEP Meeting transformative or anything. Mostly trying to sell your product or offer to help create or fix someone’s child’s IEP. Not being mean and the advice was solid, but not exactly anything new or secretive and nothing to give individual strategies that work for specific special needs children or their IEP’s. Sorry, just searching for IEP help as I have a meeting for my Autistic teenage son with severe ADHD in just under 12 hours from now (1 a.m.) and searching frantically for real, helpful tips without having to buy a product or sign up for someone’s online courses etc. This took up time I could have actually been getting real world tips and advice and I feel the title is a bit deceiving. Just my opinion on this one. Sorry if anyone is offended as that is NEVER my intent.
They just push kids though .. because it's a business ..
How can I get some help