As a parent, you play several key roles in your child's education process:
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Advocate
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Share what you know about your child, his or her strengths, challenges, interests and special gifts. Use your knowledge of the law to make sure that your child receives all of the services that are available to him or her. Be prepared, informed and assertive. Keep the focus where it belongs - on your child and his or her education.
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Collaborate
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Make sure the right people are part of the process and work with them to create an effective plan. Partner with others to make sure that the IEP is implemented as documented. Understanding the law and your child gives you the power to help create an educational plan that's right for your child and helps others do their jobs more efficiently and effectively.
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Create
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As a creator, you find new ways to implement educational goals and use available technology and tools. Don't forget, you're the expert on your child and know better than anyone else what works...and what doesn't! As a creator, your child's education offers a chance to apply the ingenuity that you've used to teach your child since he or she was born. You're the one who recognizes the importance of the non-academic lessons your child is exposed to in the classroom - things like friendship, respect and inclusion. Creating these opportunities is an important part of the IEP process.
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Evaluate
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Don't expect your child's IEP to be the perfect solution after just one draft. View it as a living document, one that changes as your child grows. As an evaluator, you help make sure that the IEP accurately reflects your child's needs and challenges, contains specific, achievable goals and covers all important areas - academic challenges, social opportunities and life skills. You also ensure that appropriate resources have been identified and are being delivered.
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Mediate
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For many, acting as a mediator can be the most challenging role. After all, no one likes conflict. As a mediator, you let the team know if something isn't working as intended and gather the right people to find a solution that works for both your child and those who provide special education services. In most cases, effective mediation will involve flexibility on everyone's part!
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Before we move on to the next module, let's "warm-up" with a fun exercise.
Copyright © 2007. The Minnesota Governor's Council on Developmental Disabilities. All rights reserved.
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