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What diagnosis qualifies for IEP?

For a child to qualify for an IEP, he/she must meet one criteria of 13 for a disability and the need for an SDI. These include: 1) Autism; 2) Developmental Delay; 3) Deaf Blind; 4) Emotional Disturbance; 5) Hearing Impairment; 6) Specific Learning Disability; 7) Intellectual Disability; 8) Orthopedic Impairment; 9) Other Health Impairment; 10) Speech and/or Language Impairment; 11) Traumatic Brain Injury; 12) Visual Impairment. Grades (passing or failing) are not part of the criteria.  Gifted students can also have an IEP if they are diagnosed with a disability and are referred to as Twice Exceptional. Consider Other Health Impairments (OHI).

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​Or the opposite. Denied an IEP or 504 because grades are good. It is so common for schools to say that a child is not eligible for special education because the child has good grades or is too smart. The truth is, this is not a valid excuse for denying special education support.

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What is the difference between a 504 Plan and an IEP?

There are many key differences between the two plans.The following link called,  "IEP vs. 504 Plan, what's the difference" shows an easy to follow chart that illustrates the differences.

​​Click on this link to recognize the key differences between a 504 Plan and an IEP.

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Can I request a draft copy before the meeting?

It's understandable for parents to want to be prepared before a meeting and get an idea of the team's goals ahead of time. There is no requirement for a school to provide a draft. Some teachers and districts choose to provide a draft as a courtesy if they are able to. The reason for this is that it can imply predetermination and actually limit parent participation/input. Legally, the IEP has to be developed as a team. You might be able to request the student's present levels of performance which would be helpful in advance because goals and services are based on data and demonstrate need. Another strategy is to ask the teacher for just those sections and send them your concerns/input in advance, this could help keep everyone on the same page.

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What if I can't get off of work to attend a meeting?

Yes, you can. Click on the link to download a copy of the law to show your employer.​

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Articles to Prepare for IEP Meeting

The IEP Process Explained by An Attorney is a Q&A informative discussion on the IEP Process.

​​Preparing for the First IEP Meeting gives some general information what what to expect.

​How to Prepare for an IEP Meeting: A Parent Guide is another good resource.

Three Steps to Better IEP Goals helps keep parents focused on 3 key items to help create better goals
Writing IEP Goals by Ruth Heitin, Ph.D., Educational Consultant discusses key components that need to be in your IEP Goals.

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Articles about What to Avoid​

Ten Common Mistakes Parents Make During the IEP Meeting.

​The 13 Worst IEP Meeting Tips shared by Parents

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Some more very important things to keep in mind. When your child turns 18, he/she is recognized as an adult and the school isn't obligated to send you notification or invite you to IEP meetings unless you are a legal guardian. See setting up guardianship. This can also happen in a medical setting where you aren't allowed to make medical decisions for your child.

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