Heads Up for IEP Meetings

Special education meetings can be challenging for parents of ADHD and LD children. Know your legal rights regarding special services and accommodations before you talk to your child’s teachers.

By Lee Ann Karg Verified Updated on July 21, 2021

You can succeed in challenging meetings regarding your attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADD/ADHD) child’s individualized education plan (IEP) with teachers and school administrators. Lee Ann Karg, M.Ed., founder of The Karg Academy, a private, not-for-profit special-education service, gives you a short list of parents’ rights:

You have the right to receive copies of any district evaluation two days before an IEP or evaluation team meeting. Read the reports carefully, researching all tests and results before the meeting.

You have the right to bring in a special-education advocate or a disability specialist to provide expertise on every aspect of your child’s disability, as it pertains to state and federal education law.

Find an advocate through your local parent information and training centers or national disability organizations. Or check Wrightslaw or COPAA.

You have the right to audio-record the entire meeting, as long as you give prior notice of your intent. (Remember, you’re not Linda Tripp if you ask for permission.)

You have the right to stop anyone at any time to ask questions. You also have the right to insist on getting answers immediately, not at the end of the meeting.