IEP Question for those with younger children

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If your child is on an IEP in kindergarten, does that mean that every year you go through the same thing until they no longer need the services or is it based on the school? So you would get one for elementary, one for middle school, one for high school?

It just seems like such a long road for both the parents and the kids if what I'm reading about schools not wanting to provide them is right, and you need to hire consultants or advocates.

Goals are written every year, or more often if necessary. Eligibility is determined every three years.

[Anonymous]

If I knew of a consultant, I would recommend one. I'm 20 years into the special needs issues for two kids and have yet to find a competent consultant. You need to do your own research and visits with different schools to get a sense of what is out there and what will best fit your child's need.

[Anonymous]

It is important to know that once your child gets an IEP it is a malleable document and follows your child through the years as long as she needs it. It can be modified or dropped as needed. You can ask for an IEP meeting at any time to ask for additional testing or new accommodations/goals. In many counties though the school systems fight like mad to not provide some services. School budget shortages are making getting some accommodations/services a fight.

If you get a service or accommodation in your child's IEP the school can not make you drop it. For example if your child gets an hour a week of speech therapy and the school decides your child does not need it, you have to agree and sign off on dropping it. The would have to take you to a costly due process hearing to force you to drop it.

Ask your child's ped if he/she has recommendations. Search for psychologists who do educational testing, they usually know of advocates. Also, some people assume advocates are lawyers. The best advocate I've ever encountered is a mom with a sns child. Some advocates are parents who know the laws, some are lawyers, and some are psychologists, etc.

It is also important to know that very few of the school staff and administration actually know the education law. Parents get told a lot of incorrect information about the process. This is why so many of us have advocates.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is important to know that once your child gets an IEP it is a malleable document and follows your child through the years as long as she needs it. It can be modified or dropped as needed. You can ask for an IEP meeting at any time to ask for additional testing or new accommodations/goals. In many counties though the school systems fight like mad to not provide some services. School budget shortages are making getting some accommodations/services a fight.

If you get a service or accommodation in your child's IEP the school can not make you drop it. For example if your child gets an hour a week of speech therapy and the school decides your child does not need it, you have to agree and sign off on dropping it. The would have to take you to a costly due process hearing to force you to drop it.

Ask your child's ped if he/she has recommendations. Search for psychologists who do educational testing, they usually know of advocates. Also, some people assume advocates are lawyers. The best advocate I've ever encountered is a mom with a sns child. Some advocates are parents who know the laws, some are lawyers, and some are psychologists, etc.

It is also important to know that very few of the school staff and administration actually know the education law. Parents get told a lot of incorrect information about the process. This is why so many of us have advocates.

I want to clarify something in the first paragraph. It can be modified or dropped if you agree to it. No one can make changes to the IEP outside of an IEP meeting which you will have been invited to. The school can change the iep if you aren't there but you can force them to change it back.

I want to clarify t

[Anonymous]

Is there a reason you're changing from an ISFP to an IEP? In Maryland, you can keep the ISFP until age 5, and many (myself included) feel it's a more child-friendly option.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is there a reason you're changing from an ISFP to an IEP? In Maryland, you can keep the ISFP until age 5, and many (myself included) feel it's a more child-friendly option.

Op here - this is the first I've ever heard of an ISFP. We were told that she would be eligible for an IEP and we would be having a meeting to discuss that. Now I need to research ISFPs! Oy vey!

[Anonymous]

OP, first of all, kudos to you on getting the process started so early. Second, as other posters mentioned, if possible, continue with private therapies as well in addition to your special ed preschool or PAC. We did that for our DS and it really helped him to transition to kindergarten.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is there a reason you're changing from an ISFP to an IEP? In Maryland, you can keep the ISFP until age 5, and many (myself included) feel it's a more child-friendly option.

I thought you can only keep the ISFP if you stay with Infants and Toddlers but must get an IEP if you go to the school system (i.e., PEP, CAPP)?

[Anonymous]

I agree with most of this buy a 3 year old does not need to know how to tie shoes. We did private OT to help with that, it was never on my child's IEP.

[Anonymous]

IFSP is for children birth to 3. Since OP's child is already 3, they are starting this as an IEP and probable placement in a PEP class. If you have had an IFSP before 3, you can keep it til 5, I think. Otherwise, if you come into the system at 3... it's an IEP for you!

I had a great, if somewhat nervewracking expereince, having my child evaled and then given an IEP at 3.5 years.

[Anonymous]

Wrightslaw also has an email newsletter delivery system. If you sign up, you get frequent messages on various topics relating to IEPs and issues. His books are xlnt.