How to Talk to Your Children About Their IEP and 504 Plans

Panel Discussion

What is Special Education?

What are special needs?

How best should parents discuss the disability/special need with your child?

  • Parents should be candid about their children's struggles but keep it in perspective this is only one aspect of a child.
  • Experts suggest focusing on what effects the disability has or maybe having on their learning/ behavior rather than giving them too much information.
  • Be positive and let them know that you and the school/teachers have a plan.
  • Emphasize and explain their “Strengths” — not just their weaknesses — in order to build self-esteem.
  • Many adults have a hard time dealing with the diagnosis of a disability and have difficulty speaking with others who may or may not be supportive of their family’s needs.If you need more information on your child’s disability, reach outto school specialists or other parents.

How should your children talk with friends?

  • What is resource room?
  • Children may get asked why they are in the Resource Room.
  • Children may get asked about the support staff helping them in the classroom.
  • Children may get asked about why they are not taking a language.

Do you include children in the IEP Planning Process?

  • Parents should be prepared to share and obtain relevant information from their child in advance.
  • While planning for the IEP or 504 meeting you should communicate with your child about what he/she would like to change or what they would like to be different at school.
  • Ask them what they want and do not want- what is working and not.
  • Students should be asked about what goals they want to work on- make choices and take control of parts of IEP/504.

How do you discuss the testing process with your children?

At what age should the child start attending the IEP & 504 meetings?

  • Should parents bring along the family or other siblings who may be able to help in the meeting?
  • What can parents do to prepare their children for the IEP & 504 meetings?

Starting at what age, should parents show the children their IEP Goals and 504 Accommodations?

  • When should you start showing them progress monitoring results?
  • Should children be more involved in the process through-out the year?
  • Are their opportunities for the students to track their results?

How do we develop our children into being strong advocates for themselves?

How do we develop our children's resilience and confidence? How do we help our children build resilience and prevent them from feeling academically inferior to their typical peers/students?