My youngest three kids are currently receiving speech services at their school, and subsequently all have Individualized Education Plans. Part of having an IEP means there are annual meetings with the IEP team to determine if the child is still eligible for services. As luck would have it, all three of my kiddos’ IEPs were up for their annual meeting today, which meant that I got to start my morning at the school, talking with the group of teachers, administrators, and speech therapists who make up the IEP team.
As we reviewed each of my kids’ progress and struggles, I felt so incredibly thankful for an IEP team that is supportive, kind, and has my kids’ best interests in mind. What a difference it makes to have everyone on the same page with the same goals! Throughout the years I was teaching, I had the chance to attend many IEP meetings for my students. I knew the why behind the meetings, and I always did my part to contribute, but it wasn’t until I became a parent with children who have IEPs that I truly understood just how valuable these meetings can be.
Being a part of the IEP team for each of my children is more than being a warm body in the room to sign the paperwork. It gives me a chance to get a report of their progress, show support for the teachers and therapists that help my children, and, most importantly, it gives me a chance to advocate for my children. It is such an honor and privilege to be able to do that. As a parent, I am the one who knows my children best. Because I know my children and am with them more than the speech therapist and technician are, I am able to see what is and isn’t working and can get a good idea of their progress in “real life” rather than from assessments or 15 minute speech sessions each week. I can then take those observations to the other members of the IEP team and can let them know if there is anything we need to change.
On the other hand, since I am not a trained speech therapist or technician, I only know so much. They are crucial members of the IEP team because they have the proper tools and knowledge to measure speech progress. They have been taught and trained how to best help kids learn to properly form their speech sounds. They can offer solutions and suggestions to help my children in ways that I cannot.
Sure, my children don’t have to receive speech services. I could probably find some resources online and could try to help them at home. Their progress wouldn’t be as productive, but I’m sure I could make some leeway. I also don’t have to be an active participant of the IEP team. I’m sure the speech therapists would continue helping my kids with minimal input from me.
BUT… when I do my part in conjunction with the speech therapists, so much more progress happens. My children feel much more supported and encouraged. They know that they have a safe group of adults who are on their side, trying to give them all the help they can to be able to make the progress they need to.
If you have a child receiving special education services, I’m sure you know just how important every member of the IEP team is. If you aren’t yet an active participant in your child’s IEP team, I encourage you to become one! It will make a world of a difference to your child, to you, and to the people at the school who are working with your child. And as we all know, any effort expended on behalf of our children helping them improve is effort well worth it!