For four years his parents did not think they needed a special education advocate representing them at the IEP meetings. For four years they had know idea to what extent the IEPs were ignoring their son’s learning problems and inhibiting his academic progress, stunting social skills, and self worth.
I encourage you to read their blog on my website resourceeducationsolutions.com or Google “Parents realize IEP problems”.
Their pediatrician was alarmed at his lack of progress and referred them to me so I could advocate on their behalf. They already had heard about my successes advocating for special needs students and had considered contacting me. But they hesitated because they had high expectation of the school officials. They assumed the school knows what’s best for their child and did all they can to educate their struggling 5th grade son. It is not uncommon for parents to assume this because if they were the teachers they would do all they can do to help share a common cause and work together.
During my initial conversation with his parents they revealed they have become increasingly concerned about his lack of academic and social emotional progress for sometime but were unsure about what to do. It was very evident to me they had every right to be concerned. For four years he has been placed in the wrong academic setting. A setting that could not help him learn, achieve, prosper emotionally, socially, and academically.
I explained in order for me to advocate for them at an IEP meeting I will need to thoroughly understand how best their child learns, how, why, and when he struggles, his level of self worth and self esteem, what motivates him, homework issues, social skills, intellectual and academic expectations, learning styles, strengths, and interests. I explained my method of doing this is to intensely listen to them (the parents), read all IEPs, review tests administered by psychologist, OT, PT, speech, hearing, and school tests, review samples of class work, talk to the teachers and professionals who know their child. And finally with the parents present, I meet and work with the child.
Please read the parents points of view at resourceeducationsolutions.com or Google “Parents realize IEP problems”.