From the article: Education - Classroom Accessibility
Deaf and hard of hearing children in special education programs often need an Individualized Education Program (IEP) to plan their education and training. An IEP is also a tool for holding educators accountable for results. What advice would you give parents to get ready for their child's next IEP meeting?
Learn more about deaf education.
Professional's Point of View
- As a Teacher of the Deaf and Speech Therapist I appreciate what she is saying as I have had to fight, as a professional to get services etc. for my students. My concern lies in just the opposite area--when the parents are unrealistic and the child is "misplaced" in the education system, totally frustrated and failing. At that point the parents need to take a step back and listen to the professionals and come to terms with how to make education work for their child. Sometimes a large class/mainstream setup doesn't work for the child. Social issues aside, the educators are ultimately held accountable for the child's success or failure in the education system and a "misplaced" child can cause long term issues all around.
- —Guest Mareezy
Hands and Voices Educational Resources
- Go to http://www.handsandvoices.org/ The best parent advocacy group for families who have children with hearing loss; there's even a pop-up IEP http://www.handsandvoices.org/articles/education/popup/pop_index.html I highly recommend this group. Click on the links
- —jeannepease
Know Your Rights and Stand Your Ground!
- IEP meetings are never fun. As the hearing parent of a Deaf son, he is now 20, I have attended many meetings over the years, several of which ended with me storming out, the tears streaming down my face. As hearing parents of Deaf children, we are always questioning our decisions regarding our child, which way is the best, knowing that we are walking down a road that is completely foreign to us, we really want to believe that the "people in charge" know the right thing to do, we trust their decisions and follow advice. Sometimes it isn't the perfect option. But we don't want to make waves. My advice is follow your feelings, learn as much as you can, know your rights and stand your ground! If you think something is out of line say something! If you don't get an acceptable response, don't sign the IEP! The IEP is not valid if you don't sign it. We need to stand up for our kids education! If we don't who will?
- —misscheree
