Supporting Native American Families of Persons with Developmental Disabilities

Being Involved in Your Child's Education

Your child's Individual Education Plan (IEP) is much more than a piece of paper. It is a written statement of what your child shoud be taught, who will teach it, where it will be taught and how much time your child will spend with children who do not have disabilities. You have a right to have your opinion be heard on these important decisions affecting your child.

There are lots of resources available to help you know your rights, what should be in your child's Individual Education Plan, what you can do to make sure the IEP best serves your child's needs and what you can do if you disagree with the IEP. Be involved!

This is your child's education and you CAN make a difference.
IEP Information, please read!!

WHY AN Individual Education Plan (IEP) IS SO IMPORTANT.....

Here is what is on an Individual Education Plan

  • What the student will learn this year, that is what the educational goals are.
  • Where he or she will learn this, whether in a regular classroom, alternative school, special class or somewhere else
  • What services the school will provide.

An IEP is agreed on during an IEP meeting. The student and parent must be invited.

Should this student attend his IEP meeting? Should his parent attend?YES!

Do you want to have a say in what it is you are supposed to learn this year? Do you want to give your opinion on whether you should be in a regular class or a special school? Do you think you need physical therapy or speech therapy or a tutor? Do you want to have a chance to ask for the things you need?

Click here for a page on how students can run their own IEP meetings. Now, we thought this page was good, but we also know many people on the reservation who would not feel very comfortable running their own IEP meeting. Guess what - you can invite anyone you want to attend your IEP meeting! That is important because most people have at least one family member or friend who has no problem speaking up. You know, Auntie Martina who always stands up to everybody? You can bring her with you!

Here is a page from us on students' involvement in their own IEP. Click here.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE click here to read a page that tells information you really need to know about Individual Education Plans. It is important. Really.

Click on this link to read the web page, "What Makes a Good Individual Education Plan for Your Child?" Although this website is from Minnesota, all of the information included is based on federal law and applies in North Dakota as well.

Fact Sheet from the National Dissemination Center for parents on communication through letterwriting, includes sample letters.

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