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Most parents do not tape IEP (Individualized Education Plan) meetings. They simply trust that everyone will do their job honestly and often, this is the case. Some people take offense at tape recoding and see it as antagonistic. It isn't. If everyone is doing their job with integrity, then how is taping an IEP a hostile gesture? Most IEP tapes get labeled and put in a drawer. Taping IEP meetings can also be a great way to share information with a spouse, relative or other interested professional who may not be able to attend the meeting. It also can easily settle misunderstandings, arguments and false impressions. Many parents also suffer from similar disabilities as their child, therefore, the tape can be a real asset to a parent who has an auditory processing deficit, is dyslexic, hard of hearing or speaks a second language.
IEP recordings can be essential if one party is not working with integrity. A recording can essentially preserve the services a child is entitled to as well as the right of parent participation. One parent posted her story. When a school administrator arbitrarily decided that her child didn't need any services, the school tried to terminate all services by "pretending" that the last IEP meeting had taken place and that the child did not need support! The parent writes:
"Someone from the school asked if they could come to my house.....on a Saturday, and compare my IEP to theirs....HUH???
She said she can't get in her computer and wants to know what I have..LOL. Rather the Easy IEP won't let her into his.
I told her I don't do business on Saturday's....She huffed and puffed, but I'll meet her at her at school this morning..wonder what the comparison will be...He's been in school for 3 weeks...and they just now realize this?? "
She said she can't get in her computer and wants to know what I have..LOL. Rather the Easy IEP won't let her into his.
I told her I don't do business on Saturday's....She huffed and puffed, but I'll meet her at her at school this morning..wonder what the comparison will be...He's been in school for 3 weeks...and they just now realize this?? "
The story continues:
"Someone in the sped dept had decided that we had NOT had an IEP meeting at the end of school last year and his IEP had run out and there fore he didn't require their services!!! So I played the recording, and the copy of all who was in attendance...12 ppl!! OOPS......there was a meeting....and yep, when I looked at the easy IEP program on their computer, it had them red flagged!!!
We went through the red flag thing last year. So yep, he still qualifies....hearing impaired, that's not going away!! And they had sent us to Vanderbilt over the summer....where would that idea have come about If there was no meeting....haha.
Principal started out with a whole new set of lies, till I hit PLAY....yep.....it was Her voice!!
Thank God for the recording....next meeting during introductions...everyone will have to recite THE DATE along with who they are....hahaha. I told the principal I'm the last parent she needs to lie to....because I NEVER go unless I have proof...I won't be the Butt of their jokes ever again!! They said I was the Only parent out of 100 that was concerned with the IEP...showed her the text messages, I'd received from Sped teacher....and If I'm the ONLY one....satisfy me and all your headaches go away!"
We went through the red flag thing last year. So yep, he still qualifies....hearing impaired, that's not going away!! And they had sent us to Vanderbilt over the summer....where would that idea have come about If there was no meeting....haha.
Principal started out with a whole new set of lies, till I hit PLAY....yep.....it was Her voice!!
Thank God for the recording....next meeting during introductions...everyone will have to recite THE DATE along with who they are....hahaha. I told the principal I'm the last parent she needs to lie to....because I NEVER go unless I have proof...I won't be the Butt of their jokes ever again!! They said I was the Only parent out of 100 that was concerned with the IEP...showed her the text messages, I'd received from Sped teacher....and If I'm the ONLY one....satisfy me and all your headaches go away!"
For more info: http://millermom.proboards.com/index.cgiboard=Education&action=display&thread=8949
Comments
Niece is severely disabled, and she needs a lot of services. My sister is already having issues with the bus not wanting to pick her up at the house even though it was decided they would! I just texted my sister telling her about this article!
Absolutely tape IEP meetings. School personnel should not worry about taping if they are doing their jobs. My husband and I found it limited the amount of disinformation, spin, and actally saved time compared to earlier meetings when we did not tape.
Just make sure you have a good tape recorder and practice setting it up. Ask people to speak up, speak clearly, and to repeat.
Get over your fear!!! You, too have power!!! (and yes,it took us a long time to feel that in our hearts.)
The first time I notified the District in writing to inform them that I was going to tape the IEP meeting, the Principal asked to postpone the meeting alleging she "didn't know this was an IEP meeting". I faxed her back quoting her e-mail in verbatim where she states "scheduling the IEP meeting" and insisted I would be present for the meeting at the previously agreed upon time and place. The IEP meeting took place as scheduled.
Don't be intimated by the District people, and insist upon your rights!
I wanted to say this idea about taping IEP meetings is a good one. In these meetings they do try and intimidate parents and tell you what your child needs------only because they don't want to do their jobs. I think this should be enforced, even made part of the IEP laws/rights. It should definitely be introduced to the Chicago Public School System! Maybe this will help all special needs children get what they so rightly deserve-a chance!
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