How should I document a phone conversation?

There may be times when you discuss your child's IEP services, medical care, or public benefits in person or over the phone, and something important comes up that you want to have evidence of later. How do you document it if the conversation wasn't written down?

The recommended way to document a phone call or in-person visit is to follow up with an email that recaps the conversation. You can also ask for clarification if something from the conversation stood out to you. For example: “I want to make sure I understood your position. You stated that . If anything in this email is incorrect, please let me know in a reasonable amount of time.” You can also see our full sample letter for documenting a conversation if you're an Undivided member.

If you need to file an appeal or file for due process, this kind of paper trail can help provide documentation along with your other paperwork like official notices from the school or public benefits offices.