Better IEP Meetings: Adjusting Accommodations for ADHD Students
Have you had a particularly productive IEP meeting? Are your child's school accommodations growing and changing with him? Share your strategies for working well with your ADHD child's school.
by
Karen Sunderhaft
IEP meetings can be emotional, and it is hard to hear and understand everything that is said if you are keyed-up or anxious. Keeping IEP meetings positive is tricky, but it can be done.
Katie Wetherbee, a former special-education teacher and mother of a child with special needs, offers tips like:
Prioritize your child’s needs. Before the meeting, write down your child’s academic, social, physical, and emotional problems, in order of priority. Request that the top three problems in each area be addressed in effective classroom accommodations.
Invite a friend. Ask a friend or family member to come with you to act as a second set of ears and eyes. Your surrogate can take notes, so that you don’t miss or misunderstand anything important. After the meeting, while everything is fresh in your mind, review your friend’s notes, jotting down questions.
Keep everyone on the same page. After the meeting, send everyone an e-mail or a letter to your child's teacher and other administrators summarizing the meeting goals and listing the people assigned to do specific tasks. This will serve as a record of the meeting and ensure that nothing was overlooked.
Share your strategies for working well with your ADHD child's school and teachers by posting a comment, below.