Get a copy of the last IEP, discipline referrals, and evaluations from the school if you do not have copies available. Read these and talk to advocates and professionals (teachers, therapists, doctors, psychologists, for example) about your child’s disability and educational needs. Ask the professionals to write a short letter supporting their recommendations for your child's IEP meeting.

Write up a list of concerns that you will bring up at the IEP meeting. For example, list what category of eligibility you believe your child should be placed in, the kinds of related services you think are needed, such as speech and language services, number of hours of direct or indirect services, the kinds of evaluations that you believe are needed to assess your child, transportation, behaviors related to the disability, a disagreement with an alternative placement, the amount of time in regular education, whether an educational assistant is needed one on one with your child, and kinds of discipline that are appropriate for your child.

When the team is introducing everyone and beginning to discuss the purposes of the meeting, read to them or give them a copy of your list so that at some time during the meeting these concerns can be addressed. You can also just use it to make sure the team has covered all the issues you want addressed.

If it helps you before the meeting, write down your reasons for wanting services and pull it out during the meeting to read to the committee. Think ahead of time what you believe is non-negotiable and what you might be willing to compromise on.

If your child is not attending the IEP, bring in a picture or even a videotape of the child or friends or family saying what he or she would like for placement or services.

See if an advocate, a friend, or a family member can attend the IEP with you. You may want to consider taping the IEP meeting. You should let other members of the IEP team know you are taping the meeting and give them an opportunity to also tape the meeting.

Take copies of current articles and resources about your child's disability to share with the IEP committee.

If you believe that there is conflict within the IEP that you cannot resolve, ask to take a break to reconvene the meeting at a later time. During the break time get support and more information that may help resolve the issues of concern.

Do not sign the IEP if you do not agree with the IEP, or sign that you do not agree with the part that you do not agree with. READ THE IEP CAREFULLY BEFORE YOU SIGN IT. In some cases it may help to take the IEP home with you to read over with someone who knows about special education rights, before you sign it.

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