Special needs kids 101: How to make a parent input form for your child's IEP

July 28, 11:35 AMPittsburgh Special Needs Kids ExaminerHeather Shockney

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This is an example of a parent input form created by Heather Shockney

It's almost time for the kids to head back for another school year. If your child has an IEP you will be having an IEP meeting shortly after the school year has begun. Parents concerns are often not heard when the IEP meeting is taking place. To make sure your concerns are addressed you can make a parent input form. This can be included with your child's IEP.

Making a parent input form is simple to do. It will allow you to express your concerns with your child in school, and you can offer solutions to the concerns.

To make your parent input form start by writing down a list of concerns you have about your child. You know your child best. You are the one they come to with complaints about school.

After you have made your list, review and see how many concerns you have. You do not want to have three pages of concerns. This will take too long and the school may decide not to address any of the issues at all. The parent input form needs to be about the most important concerns. Ten concerns should be the most you include in your parent input form. If you have more concerns that have to be addressed, choose the ones that cannot wait. Then you can always call another IEP meeting at a later date.

Once you have your concerns for your parent input form you need to offer some suggestions on how to resolve them. For example, let's say that Tommy has sensory issues with food. He will only eat a few select foods. You can get a prescription from the doctor stating that he is to have only chicken and salads, or he will only eat peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. You give this prescription to the school and it can be included in his IEP. This will guarantee Tommy has a meal he will eat each day for lunch.

Another example would be Suzy never remembers to bring home her school books to do homework. No matter how much you remind her she still forgets them. Have it written into her IEP that Suzy will get an extra set of books to keep at home. This will allow her to always be able to complete her assignments.

A parent input form is very important to your child's IEP. Write on top the form that you want it included with the final IEP. This will also leave a written paper trail of concerns should there be any issues later.

Here are the main points to remember when writing a parent input form for your child's IEP meeting.

1. Make a list of your concerns for your child at school.
   
2. Review and select the most important concerns.
   
3. Offer suggestions on how to resolve the concerns.
   
4. Ask that the parent input form be included in the IEP.

If you are not sure about something being aloud in your child's IEP visit Wrights-law. They offer plenty of advice on the laws regarding IEPs.