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Best Outcomes: Person-centered and Self-directed
Self-Determination
Nurturing Self-Advocacy Through Student Participation in the IEP Process
One very effective way the help your child learn the skills needed for self-determination is to involve her or him in leading his IEP team. What follows are some practical ways to build the skills your child will need in order to participate.
Student Participation in the IEP Process
Beginning in elementary school, try to encourage this progression of Involvement for your child:
- Student introduces self at IEP meetings and shares his interests and skills
- Student begins to become familiar with the IEP process
- Student participates in creation of meeting agenda
- Student shares his evaluation of IEP meeting
Beginning in middle school, assist your child In developing these abilities:
- Student becomes familiar with IEP terminology such as “disability”, “present level of educational performance”, “goals and objectives”, “accommodations”
- Student is able to explain his/her disability
- Student is able to identify what works and what doesn’t work as an accommodation
- Student creates IEP meeting agenda (in consultation with parents and school staff)
Beginning in High School:
- Student initiates IEP meeting
- Student leads IEP meeting
- Student sets goals and objectives
- Student collaborates in transition planning
- Student participates in self-advocacy groups
- Student participates in election process (voting)
- Student takes the lead supported employment planning
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