Preparing for Your First IEP Meeting with Amanda DeLuca and Kirby Morgan

Dr. Mary Barbera discusses what to expect at an IEP meeting with Amanda DeLuca and Kirby Morgan.
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What is an IEP? And how do you prepare for your first or next IEP meeting? That is a subject we are tackling today with two IEP experts, Amanda DeLuca and Kirby Morgan. This short vlog is an excerpt from podcast number 152 where we talk a lot about the transition from ages 2 to 3. We discussed what kind of things you should bring or prepare for your first or next IEP meeting as well as some of the special things you should know before attending.
My son, Lucas, along with many other kids are diagnosed right around the age of 2 or 3. And so my son was diagnosed with autism one day before he turned three. But the planning for him to go to whatever services were based on the fact that he had a speech delay. And so all of a sudden he's got moderate to severe autism and it's just a hard process. Especially because an IFSP - contract that you have when your child is birth to three - is very family-oriented and is in the home. The parents really need to be there working hand in hand. And then the IEP tends to be more center-based. So, there's a whole lot of unhappy campers - both the parents and the kids - when they have to transition to that IEP. So I asked Amanda and Kirby what their tips were for making the transition from IFSP to IEP smoother.
Amanda DeLuca said that tells every parent that a communication system needs to be written into every IEP. That way you can know who is working on what with your child and how their schedule is laid out. Most children with autism also can’t tell us what they’re struggling with or how their days are, so the communication to and from the school is super important. “A lot of our kids have sleep struggles and dietary trouble. So it's important for us to be able to tell the school as well, you know, we were up all night long. He didn't really eat breakfast. If he's extra cranky, this may be why.”
Communication also holds everyone accountable, DeLuca says. You can make sure your child is getting the right services each day by asking for the minutes from each session.
Kirby Morgan said to learn as much as you can. “I went to my first IEP thinking, no problem. I got this. My husband was at work. I was like, oh, you don't need to take the day off. Because I was really expecting it to be more like the first plan that we had where I had a lot of input. Well, when I got there, I was at a table with a full team that I've never met. And they had a document prepared 20 pages long about my son, what his goals are going to be.” Morgan said she was speechless at this meeting and that if she’d spent 30 or 40 minutes learning about the IEP process she might have done things differently. There’s a lot to figure out with an IEP in terms of services and your rights as a parent.
My mission is to turn autism or signs of autism around, which means to help each individual child be as safe, as independent and as happy as possible. So if you are looking to be a part of this movement I'm starting, I would love to invite you to attend a free online workshop at marybarbera.com/workshop.
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Dr. Mary Barbera. I fell into the autism world as an autism mom in 1999 when her first-born son, Lucas, was diagnosed with autism. Since then, she became a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst and best-selling author of The Verbal Behavior Approach. Since 2015, she’s created 3 autism online courses based on applied behavior analysis for professionals and "gung-ho" parents. Whether you’re looking for autism parenting strategies, working with development delays in children, or in search of autism help for professionals, I can encourage you to subscribe to the channel and join me on my journey. I’ll be providing weekly autism resources that you don’t want to miss.

[@hartsheart]

This was very helpful! My son was actually denied an iep last year (he's in 1st grade) but recently the school offered to do an fba on him because his behavior was sending him home almost daily. I attribute all of the help I have received to the school guidance counselor who has been my son's best advocate in the school!

[@marybarbera]

That is great that they are doing that and getting him the help he needs.

[@crismarieb6275]

My son just started kindergarten and prior to the school year starting I told the principal, school psychologist and teacher that he has level 3 autism none of them seemed concerned so I thought they could keep my son safe. I was also told by the school psychologist to wait to see how my son adjusts until we request an IEP it has been three months and he is not adjusting he is eloping from the classroom over 30 times a day and is even able to elope onto the parking lot and the principal will not give him one on one supervision to keep him safe until his IEP is issued. So now I have decided to keep him home and it has been very hard I just had a baby and I’m trying to juggle both kids. I really wanted to be able to send him to this school because it would have been so convenient for me because it is so close 😢

[@marybarbera]

Great to hear! Hope to hear about his progress! Join our community here: MaryBarbera.com/courses

[@MsCuriousgirl123]

@@marybarberadid you even read her comment or is this automatic response

[@Magalo206]

No wonder why my childrens have a behavior problems and the school district is denying to offer an ABA therapy.

[@marybarbera]

Certainly want to try to get an advocate to help him get the services he needs.

[@zarqabi2633]

My son got autism he 3 and he start nursery but he don’t have any therapies yea I don’t know which therapy he need or where she’ll I take him pls advice me

[@marybarbera]

aba therapy is the top choice for those with autism. It may be a good idea to also take my courses so you can learn how to help him at home and what to advocate for. Check out a free workshop here www.marybarbera.com/workshops

[@humayunnew7886]

Please send me link

[@marybarbera]

Get the free guide here: MaryBarbera.com/resources