Here are 10 actions parents can take that would likely lead to a less productive meeting:
1. Arrive Late: Show up to the meeting without regard to the scheduled start time, disrupting the proceedings and potentially missing crucial information.
2. Skip Homework: Don't review your child's current IEP or progress reports before the meeting, leaving you unprepared to discuss their needs and progress.
3. Ignore Participation: Don't provide any input or ask any questions during the meeting. Remember, your voice is essential in shaping the IEP.
4. Bypass Communication: Don't establish a relationship with your child's teachers or therapists, which can make it difficult to understand and discuss your child's progress.
5. Keep Your Concerns to Yourself: If you have concerns about your child's education, don't share them. This will prevent your team from addressing them in the IEP.
6. Don't Follow the Jargon: Do not ask for clarification if professionals use educational jargon or technical terms you're unfamiliar with.
7. Forget the Documents: Leave any important documents, assessments, or reports at home.
8. Become Overly Emotional: Allow emotions to overshadow the discussion, leading to potential conflict or miscommunication.
9. Neglect the Long-Term Vision: Forget about the long-term goals for your child and focus solely on the here and now.
10. Avoid Follow-Up: After the meeting, don't read the finalized IEP document, don't check to see if the plan is being implemented, and don't stay in touch with the IEP team.
Remember, these are things you want to avoid. Doing these things could lead to an unproductive IEP meeting.
