Finding Your Seat at the Meeting Table
Aug 09, 2024
One of the common reasons parents aren’t active in advocating for their child with dyslexia is they don’t understand that they have an important role on the educational team.
Schools aren't just inviting you to meetings to be polite. They are inviting you because your input is important.
While it can be a little intimidating to sit at a table full of educators when you have no formal training in education, believe me that you have a place there.This blog provides the basics about meetings to ease your nerves about taking your place at the table.
There are a few different types of meetings you might be asked to attend:
- A meeting to suggest an evaluation. These meetings are called because you or the teacher have raised a concern about a possible learning difference that could require support services or special education. If the school has a concern, they are calling this meeting to get your consent for the evaluation and explain to you what it entails.
- A meeting after an evaluation to decide if your child qualifies for an IEP (special education) or 504 plan. This could also be called a “meeting for eligibility”. Once a child is deemed “eligible”, repeat evaluations and eligibility meetings will occur every three years.
- Meeting to create or review an IEP (Individualized Education Plan) or 504 plan. Once a child has one of these plans, the meetings will occur yearly (or more often if needed).
FAQs
Who will be at the meeting?
At a minimum a teacher and a school administrator (principal, vice principal) will be there. Others that may be asked to attend:
- Special Education Teacher
- School Psychologist (because they do a large part of the evaluations)
- Speech Therapist/Occupational Therapist/Physical Therapist (if they are involved with your child)
- Special Education case manager or coordinator
Do I have to talk?
No. You could just sit and listen. Showing up if the most important part. But I hope you will talk. If you need help preparing, check out my blog 3 Skills to Learn to have an IEP Without Tears
Will they ask me questions?
Yes! They may ask you how you feel your child is doing in school or how your child is feeling about going to school each day. They may ask if you have any concerns about your child’s learning that you’d like to bring up. As I stated in this video 3 Skills to Learn to have an IEP Without Tears, you should feel free to write down your thoughts before the meeting and bring the notes with you.
Can I bring someone with me?
Yes! You can bring anyone with you that’d you’d like, but it’s good to let the school know in advance. They like to have a list in advance of all who are planning to attend. You can bring a friend or family member for support, you can bring an advocate or lawyer (more on why you might do this another time), or anyone else you think might add something to the meeting or provide support for you. For example, my husband and I attend the meeting in-person, and my daughter’s private reading tutor always video conferences into our yearly meeting.
Can it be a virtual meeting?
Yes. If getting time off of work or child care for other children is going to make it hard for you to attend a meeting in person, then you should request the meeting be done over video call.
Do I have to make decisions at the meeting?
No. If you don’t feel comfortable signing a consent or IEP at the end of the meeting, you don’t have to. You can request more time to review everything or ask questions.
The school scheduled a meeting at a date/time that I can’t attend. Can I request to move it?
Yes! Or you can request a virtual meeting if that would make it work.
Can I request an interpreter?
Yes! IF you would better understand the meeting in a language other than English, then the school MUST provide an interpreter in your preferred language.
Do you have other questions about meetings before you go? Email me at christine@parentingdyslexia360