IEPs- let's get into it

IEPs can be intimidating, so we are diving in!

What is an IEP anyway? 

It stands for “Individualized Education Plan,” and this is a document that is curated by a team of professionals, the student (especially when they’re older), and the parents to meet a child’s needs at school.

Now, here is what an IEP is NOT:

❌ a label or a “life sentence” 

❌ an indicator that you’re child isn’t smart

❌ a reason to feel embarrassed or ashamed 

An IEP IS:

✅ a tailored plan to support how your child learns best

✅ a tool to help your child thrive at school 

✅ a team effort- remember YOU are part of this team, working alongside teachers and specialists in the school building 

✅ one way to ensure that your child has equal access to learning opportunities 

💡 What is most important?

One of the most important concepts with an IEP is to catch needs early. Early support equals more time with specially designed instruction to help your child make more progress at school. As an IEP Manager/Case Manager (each state has its own verbiage), I tell parents, “my job is to work myself out of a job.” The message behind this statement is that we want to provide support to help your child in such a way that they don’t need support as they get older. We can fade this assistance over time and EXIT them from the IEP process, which is a huge accomplishment!

🚨 The team needs your help 🚨

Although the IEP team is made up of many experts within education (teachers, SLPs, OTs, PTs, audiologists, Deaf/Hard of Hearing Teachers, etc.), YOU are the expert on your child. It is greatly appreciated when parents show up to meetings and contribute information about their child. At a minimum, an IEP is updated annually. Kids change all the time, so there is always new, relevant information to include in their present levels, goals, services, areas of strength and need, etc. 

📚 Here’s the deal…

We need to normalize support. Some kids need glasses, others need speech therapy, sensory support, extra time during tests, and so much more. IEPs empower kids to thrive socially, express their thoughts/wants/needs, keep up with classroom expectations, and feel successful in school. Support looks different for each child, and an IEP is one of the most powerful tools we have to, formally, meet them where they are. 

I hope this information is helpful if you're a parent in the IEP process. As always, comment if there are additional questions I can help answer.

Stay chatty,

Lindsay Leahr, MA, CCC-SLP