1. A presentation by Kate Cumiskey, MFA Cumiskey Education Group, LLC 5/1/2015

2.  The school is required to provide two notifications of the upcoming IEP to parents—by Volusia County Schools policy, one should be written notice  This notice may be sent through the U.S. Mail, sent home with the student, or handed to the parent or guardian  On this notice, there is a spot for you to provide your concerns for the IEP

3.  You may return the written notice ahead of time  You may call or e-mail to notify the school that you will be attending  You may return the notice, declining attendance (NOT RECOMMENDED)  You may return the notice requesting a different date and/or time for the meeting  You may return the notice on attendance  You can bring anyone you want with you to the meeting, and are required to notify the school ahead of time ONLY if you are bringing a lawyer, so they may bring the school district lawyer

4.  Although the school doesn’t always mention it, what you write or attach here is transferred to the actual IEP  If you write nothing, a generic concern will be written in and may or may not be discussed with you at the meeting, such as “Parent is concerned with Johnny’s continued progress in the curriculum”

5.  Your “parent concerns” are a part of that document, taken from the meeting notice  Prior to the IEP meeting, sit down with your partner, friend, or advocate and document your actual concerns for your child’s IEP  Be specific, be succinct, and it is okay to leave off complete sentences for a list format  Use strong, concrete language

6.  Lengthy passages  Repeating yourself  Wishy-washy phrases such as “I feel”, “I think”, “I wish”  Passive phraseology: Maybe, if, possible, can  Obscure language

7.  Use the present tense, and when referring to past events, link them to the present, such as “Johnny has been targeted by bullies this year and last, including pushing, shoving, and name calling and I am concerned that this is happening and will happen in the future outside of teacher/staff hearing and vision. I hold the school 100% responsible for the safety, including emotional safety from bullies, of my child while at school.”  Make certain to include a statement about your child’s limitations due to exceptionality, such as, “Due to her Autism Spectrum Disorder, Suzy is unable to self-advocate when it comes to bullies. She cannot be responsible for protecting herself and must be 100% protected by staff at all times, including transitions to and from class, on the bus, at the bus stop, in the restrooms, in the cafeteria, and during group activities and field trips.”  Put in everything you are concerned about as relates to your child’s needs. Do not include items which are not part of the IEP such as “Johnny needs Occupational Therapy according to his doctor”, if the IEP team has already determined that OT is not needed for educational purposes.  Be honest. Don’t worry about offending the professionals at the school

8. Start with, “I/we are concerned about:” then bullet the concerns.  Training of staff, including cafeteria and office, regarding ASD and the specific, individual needs of our child.  That all accommodations and modifications be implemented immediately from the date of this IEP and across all school settings. For example, the time-timer needs to be used for all transitions, including all special area and outdoor settings and special days such as field trip and assembly days.  That all accommodations and modifications be implemented throughout the term of the IEP.  That although I expect to be informed of problems and needs, as a parent I cannot remote control my child and the school is 100% responsible for controlling her behavior at all times when she is in your care. She cannot, due to the nature of her exceptionality, teach herself appropriate behavior or self-monitor at this time.  That we not be called to remove our child from school unless he is ill or suspended, as if we are called for behavioral issues he will learn that he gets to leave a difficult situation if his behavior is out of control.

9.  That due to Johnny’s scattered skills, he is not making sufficient progress in his weak areas while also being sufficiently challenged to move forward in his strong areas.  That there is a likelihood that due to his exceptionality, our child is vulnerable to predatory behavior on the part of other students and needs direct, safe adult supervision at all times.  That attention not be called to our child’s needs, exceptionality, or accommodations in front of other students.  Since Suzy has great difficulty with choices, but also resists nonpreferred activities, she be given a limit of two choices in a controlled academic setting

10. Make sure that your concerns are included in “Parent Concerns” on the IEP, not added as notes. This is on the front of the IEP and in a very visible spot for teachers and staff.