IEP Check Up & Check In

“If One Advances confidently in the direction of his Dreams, and Endeavors to Live the Life which he has Imagined, He will meet with a Success in Common Hours.” ~Henry Thoreau

Greetings everyone and Happy Holidays.

The first nine weeks has come to an end and the second nine weeks is rolling right on. How is everyone doing. Personally the IEP process has not prove to be positive so far for. However, I am remaining open that something will change.

It's that time for actually  it's a little over the time to do your 4.5 and 9 week IEP check ups. does any one have any tips or concerns. The normal pattern of the site will return with the word of the day, law of the week etc... after the Thanksgiving holiday. Until then please fill free to share and or ask questions and a response will be provided within 24 hours.

Thank you it is great to be back!
Happy Holidays!
VA IEP Mentor

IEP Helpful tips!

“If One Advances confidently in the direction of his Dreams, and Endeavors to Live the Life which he has Imagined, He will meet with a Success in Common Hours.” ~Henry Thoreau

Greetings everyone! My deepest apology for just returning. I too have been in a IEP whirl wind with my son. Some good but a lot bad, because of that it drove me to read the following the book by WrightsLaw titled "Titled All About IEPs". I did so to see what was wrong and why was everything going to bad and the tips helped. My child is 17 and is about to be a junior soo I think sometimes at least for me I get in a pattern of doing things and need a check every now and then.

Today I am going to share the key items to look out for during the IEP process whether it is the first time or you have been at it for while this is helpful for both the parent and the self advocate.

1. Falling to make a long term plan for the child's education and or future.
2. Not clearly understanding the child's disability and allowing the school to make decisions about their child's( their) special education
3. Forgetting to keep your emotions under control
4. Not documenting events and conversation in writing. ( see the book for more details)

May share that in 7 years this year my emotions got the best of me. So I personally must really work on number four!

Word of the week!

Consent- reequirement that the parent be fully informed of all information that relates to any action that the school wants to take about the child.

Question of the week?

What help you through this years IEP hurdle?

Know the law !

Until next time

IEP Mentor VA

IEP Meeting Check Up

“If One Advances confidently in the direction of his Dreams, and Endeavors to Live the Life which he has Imagined, He will meet with a Success in Common Hours.” ~Henry Thoreau


Hi Everyone! I hope Everyone is doing well,


The last the time we spsoke it was on May 23rd,2011.... yes its been a few days. How did everyones's IEP meetings go? I hope they went well. For everyone who is still working on their IEP' s and for next year IEp's tomorrow I will share the key items that Pete Wright say parents miss when they are working on IEP's with the school. Today I just wanted to check in with everyone.
 Look forward to seeing you tomorrow!

IEP Mentor VA

It's that time Again Meetings Meetings!

“If One Advances confidently in the direction of his Dreams, and Endeavors to Live the Life which he has Imagined, He will meet with a Success in Common Hours.” ~Henry Thoreau


It's that time of year again were the close of the school term is upon us. For many that means IEP meetings to prepare for the next school term. This week the mentors will share some helpful tips to have a success for meeting and the development of an appropriate IEP.... This information will be a combination of law facts, and personal experience please feel free to share your comments and tips that have worked for you that equaled success.

When preparing for a IEP meeting its good to be open minded and have a balance within of objectivity and subjectivity. Whether your are a self advocate or a parent you know what is needed.  If this is your first IEP it is great to have a list of what you want in the IEP, what goals will be reached/worked on during the school year. I ( IEP Mentor VA) found that it is helful to never think the negative that the goals will not be reach. If there is any thought that it want work set up for the acceptance of failure. To insure the goals are obtainable you cover the concern in the accommodations/modifications.

For today the Keys are:

• Who
• What
• When
• Where
• Why
• How

Who will  be responsible for providing services?

What goals, benchmarks, accommodations/modifications?

When will it be taught?

Where would it be taught? ( inclusion we will cover tomorrow)

Why are these goals etc... being selected?

How will the student work towards the end goal?

Above all remember the IEP meeting is a team effort you the parent or self advocate has just as much power as the education team. You not only have the knowledge of person but you have done your homework and know what the other side  may have to offer. Hmmmm went you think about it you have more power then think. Now the challenge is how you will us it.

"Words of the day"

Benchmarks~ levels of academic performance used as checkpoints to monitor progress toward performance goals and/or academic standards

Accomodations~ Changes in how test is administered that do not substantially alter what test measures; includes changes in presentation format, response format, test setting or test timing.

Modifications~ Substanial changes in what the student is expected to demonstrate;includes changes in instructional level, content, and performance criteria, may include changes in test form or format;includes alternate assessments.

Today was a mouth full tomorrow we will look at inclusion and more key items to have a successfull and productive IEP meeting which will = an apporpriate IEP

It was great to talk with you today.

See you tomorrow!

IEP Mentor

“If One Advances confidently in the direction of his Dreams, and Endeavors to Live the Life which he has Imagined, He will meet with a Success in Common Hours.” ~Henry Thoreau

Due to the site being down we are a little behind so I will share the information to catch us up.

The Question of the week?
Do you know what diploma track you( self advocates) or child is on?

"Words of the Day"

FAPE- Free Appropriate Public Education
Factoroid #
FAPE is  special education and related services that are provided at public expense, meet state standards, are appropriate, and are provided in the conformity with an IEP.

IEP- Individualized Education Program and you may hear Individualized Education Plan
IFSP- Individualized Family Service Plan

The terms were Taken From IDEIA- The Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement  Act 2004

There is alot information above its to catch up... If there is a question and or concern you would like addressed please let me know... I am starting from the beginning of special education but we want everyone to receive something from the blog
Signing off  See you tomorrow
IEP Mentor VA

“If One Advances confidently in the direction of his Dreams, and Endeavors to Live the Life which he has Imagined, He will meet with a Success in Common Hours.” ~Henry Thoreau

Greetings Everyone I'm IEP Mentor VA,

The road has been bumpy with learning terminology, IEP etiquette, meetings, writing a well written IEP that really addressed the student’s goals etc… I also was one who is a single parent and had very little funding to seek help. Even though there are great agencies available that either cost little or no fees at all they were always full. Through help from friends, family, and community I learned through trial and error and this blog is my way of paying it forward. In hopes that no matter what your social economic level is that there is a safe and positive place to share and even receive updated information.
We have a new Mentor from Hampton Roads and hopefully as the word gets out more will joined.

stay toon for the word of the day, question of the week, and law of the month......
See you soon~
IEP Mentor VA

Welcome Message ~Retake

“If One Advances confidently in the direction of his Dreams, and Endeavors to Live the Life which he has Imagined, He will meet with a Success in Common Hours.” ~Henry Thoreau

Welcome Everyone!

 The IEP Mentor blog has been develop to allow everyone a safe and positive place for parents and self-advocates (students) an opportunity to communicate concerns regarding IEP’s, ask questions and receive up to date factual responses, receive legislation updates, terminology (word of the day) assistance, over all a relax yet informational atmosphere to discuss and receive help with IEP’s. The blog is supported by parents in the various Virginia regions (with networking possibilities to have other states represented) who have had success and lessons learned along their IEP journey. So come be a part of the IEP celebration, having an IEP or a child with an IEP it’s time to stop seeing doom and gloom yet it’s a time where really we can celebrate because that means you really will have an opportunity to partner with educators to have a positive outcome for you the student (self-advocators) and or the Parent who has a child with an IEP to have a premier education and very successful future. So together let’s turn “HELP I HAVE AN IEP, HELP MY CHILD HAS AN IEP” into “IEP HERE WE COME SUCCESSFUL FUTURE”  It may not be an easy journey lets join together and make it a successful one

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****Welcome  Everyone…. The blog became live on May 12^th, 2011

                                                                                        there were some tech issues but we are back now ******