4 IEP Secrets Withheld From Parents | Special Education Decoded

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; [e-mail]
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...

[@alicerose8057]

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?

[@serritawatkins8113]

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 😢😢😢

[@lauraw3338]

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.

[@beckyallen1581]

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!!!!!

[@twizzlerjud]

I understand your frustration, but being an obnoxious member of an IEP team gets your child nothing in return. Yes, know your rights and stand strong but not as a bully.

[@netb1166]

They get money if the can place the kid on a iep plan(special education).

[@taraking6472]

My requests were ignored so many times. My son just graduated, but when he was younger, it was a literal nightmare getting his IEP and educational needs met.

[@sdflores7572]

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.

[@JJJJ-he8bz]

If I ever have a child I’ll do EVERYTHING in my power to make sure they are not on an IEP.

[@wilsontoddd5253]

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

[@michelleswensonhis9649]

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!

[@shoachiwarrior]

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.

[@sydneycardea6716]

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.

[@mst2628]

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.

[@jlhelt1990]

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).

[@kb2825]

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.

[@MJ-hd7nr]

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.

[@anellbeecher184]

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.

[@alonelemming1]

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

[@ShanAcy]

Wow, that's some great Information you really went deep into details