What Should Parents Know Before Giving Input For An IEP?

21st June 2022

The contribution of parents to the education of special needs students is impeccable. Parents understand their children's thought processes and mindsets the best and thus can communicate with special educators to frame a particular academic pattern for them. With the help of parents’ input, special educators plan an IEP for gifted children to provide them with extra support.

What is an IEP?

IEP stands for Individualized Education Plan. Let’s define an individualized education program or plan. Children with special abilities require special care and support from special education teachers and parents to reach their academic and other goals. An IEP is a unique educational program for supporting children with rare gifts.

You should also know to manage the needs of special children as a step towards sustainability:

Catering and managing the needs of special children

This lesson planning has specific adaptations to help the special student succeed in a general curriculum as well. An IEP should include academic and behavioral, social, and emotional goals, including hobbies, personal interests, sports and fitness, family, friendships, and the community. It should be revisited and revised as a special child grows a constant because IEP development is necessary to enhance the progress of a gifted kid.

Contribution of parents to IEP:

Parents of special children often get confused while planning an academic lesson for them. Teaching children with special needs is different than the mainstream classroom because their mental abilities and adaptability are different. To understand and cater to the needs of specially-abled children, they have often opted for SEN online courses for parents. There are numerous SEN courses that are CACHE-endorsed online courses of very high quality.

It is important for parents to understand the learning differences of their children. Special education services have always mentioned one particular thing everything that working with special children requires an extreme form of attention. IEP is written keeping in mind the mental potential of children and therefore, the presence of parents is mandatory in an IEP meeting.

Parents must take part in the process of creating an IEP for their special children. The reason behind this is that often it has been observed that special education teachers and parents are not on the same page. The expectation level of parents of gifted children is not the same as that of teachers. A low expectation level of teachers of especially-abled children will result in creating an IEP that does not suit the level of children. This is not a good scene for sure.

Mistakes that parents make during the IEP process:

• Parents often do not write down or document things they should tell the special education team or services that are providing IEP for the children. They often miss certain important things.
   
• The input of parents is absolutely inevitable and invincible in designing an IEP for a specially-abled child. Parents often feel that the decision taken by special educators is the best but the way parents understand a special child’s mind no one else will do so. Thus, not considering themselves an essential part of the IEP design is a wrong notion that many parents have.
   
• Not understanding the value of, or taking advantage of, the parental concerns portion of the IEP and the parent letter of attachment.
   
• Parents often behave too nice and polite even though they understand that the gesture coming from the other end is not that cordial. This is not wanted. We are not at all recommending parents to be rude and mean, but respect should be given to people who deserve irrespective of any parameter.
   
• Getting the IEP procedure safely should be another lookout for parents. They often leave the entire process in the hands of special education teams where the latter may not include certain verticals while charging for the same. That is definitely cheating.
   
• Going to an IEP meeting without an advocate is another mistake that parents of special educators do. The presence of an advocate ensures that the entire discussion is on an account of the law and order.
   
• Some parents have the tendency of requesting extra services for their gifted children. Well, we know that parents know what will be the most suitable thing for their kids but sometimes, special education experts who genuinely want to cater to the needs of specially-talented kids know the best plan for them.
   
• Comparing your child’s IEP to others’ IEPs is an absolutely wrong decision that parents take. The capabilities and potential of special children are different. For example, a child having learning disabilities will have a set of IEPs totally different from that of a child who has autism.
   
• Due to different levels of expectations from children parents often suggest the inclusion of certain things on the IEP that are not meant for that kid. Parents must understand that crossing the bar, north or south, of expectation will only impact adversely on the special child’s entire life. Therefore, sticking to an IEP that is apt for the kid is always recommended.

So to end with, with the help of SEN online courses for parents, the input or contribution of parents in designing an IEP for a specially-able child has been quite smooth. Special educators always believe that without the help of parents, framing any academic plan for gifted children is beyond imagination.

Therefore, it is our request to all those special parents that before opting for an IEP for your gifted kid, remember to check on these points where there’re sheer chances of making mistakes.

To know more, call our toll-free number: 1800-212-6400.