When searching for IEP solutions, it is easy to be inundated with a myriad of misleading articles claiming you can quickly set your child up with a fantastic IEP. The IEP process is often an energy draining experience that will leave parents feeling exhausted—and parents are already tired from their existing responsibilities. The systems in place that serve children with disabilities are infinitely complicated and difficult to navigate without extensive experience, as they consume substantial amounts of time and energy for parents to filter through and comprehend.
If the IEP system is stacked against me, what IEP solutions can help my child?
Thanks to the results of effective parental advocacy, there are laws in place that help protect our childrens’ rights to a free, appropriate, public education.
On a federal level, one of our IEP solutions is the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). IDEA ensures that, “…all children with disabilities are entitled to a free appropriate public education to meet their unique needs and prepare them for further education, employment and independent living.”
In California, parents are afforded an additional protection in the form of the Lanterman Act. The Lanterman Act, “declares that persons with developmental disabilities have the same legal rights and responsibilities guaranteed all other persons by federal and state constitutions and laws, and charges the regional center with advocacy for, and protection of, these rights.”
We have to make sure laws are not diluted and that our children receive appropriate services. First of all, a school district may “unilaterally” decide to deny a service, or not hire an individual able to provide that service. Furthermore, the local Regional Center may make similar decisions. If we let agencies decide what services our children will and will not receive, many will not get their needs met.
Please keep in mind that IEP solutions are a marathon, not a sprint. We all need to fight back against poorly written IEPs, cuts or changes in law that impact our children, and anything that causes our children to not get the services they need. Sometimes, we cannot get up and fight that day. Even the strongest person reaches their limit. Also, many of
these obstructive systems are designed to push up against—or past—our limits. Agencies are good at wearing us down, saying no to reasonable requests, making us go through entire organizations to get services, and forcing us to go to due process to preserve our child’s civil liberties. We have heard that some school districts conduct training in how to deny services. We believe it.
Where does all this leave us with IEP solutions? The best solutions for your child are most likely going to be on the hardest, most obstructed path. If you’re not sure where to go from here, it’s time to speak to an advocate.
Hire an advocate. Learn your rights.
As parents, we understand. As advocates, we can help.