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Finding Your Voice: A Parent’s Role in the IEP Meeting

  IEP meetings can feel intimidating—especially the first few. You sit at a table surrounded by professionals with degrees, titles, and test results. And there you are—the parent. Worried. Emotional. Hoping you’re doing it right. But let me tell you something I’ve learned both as an educator and as a parent: You belong at that table. Your voice matters more than you know. No one on that team knows your child like you do. You see them at their best and at their most vulnerable. You notice the small progress, the big setbacks, and everything in between. So how do you make sure your voice is heard—especially when you’re feeling overwhelmed or unsure? Here’s what’s helped me and the families I’ve worked with: 1. Come Prepared—Emotionally and Practically Bring your notes. Write down what’s working, what’s not, and what you’ve observed at home. But also, prepare emotionally. These meetings are about your child. It’s okay to feel things. Bring tissues if you need to. Take a...
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Dear New IEP Parent: You’re Doing Better Than You Think

  Dear parent just starting out,  You’re scared. You’re overwhelmed. You just walked out of your first IEP meeting with a stack of papers and a million thoughts racing through your head. You want to be strong. You want to do everything right. You want to make sure your child gets what they need—but you’re not even sure what that looks like yet. I know. I’ve been there—I am still there sometimes. But if I could go back and sit beside myself in those early moments, here’s what I’d say: 1.  You don’t have to be perfect to be the perfect parent for your child There’s no right way to navigate this. You will make mistakes, forget questions, and second-guess yourself. That’s okay. What matters is that you’re showing up—and that matters more than you realize. 2.  This will get easier. The acronyms, the paperwork, the meetings—it’s all so much at first. But you’ll learn. You’ll find your voice. And one day, you’ll be the one explaining it to someone else. 3....
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When the IEP Isn’t Working: What Parents Can Do

  No matter how thorough your evaluations were… No matter how well-written the goals seemed… No matter how good the plan looked on paper… Sometimes, it just doesn’t feel like things are moving forward. And when you’re the parent, watching your child stall despite everything being in place—it can feel frustrating, confusing, and even a little defeating. We’ve been there. After our son started his preschool program, he made great progress—learning his letters, identifying shapes, starting to write his name. We were encouraged. We felt like we were finally on the right track. But then… things slowed down. He wasn’t meeting certain goals as quickly. Some skills just weren’t sticking. As much as we wanted to believe it was just a phase, we started asking ourselves: As both an educator and a parent, I knew this wasn’t unusual. Growth isn’t linear. But when it’s your child, and you’re watching them struggle, it can still feel heavy. Here’s What We Did—and What You Can Do ...
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