Unite and Conquer: 3 Tips for Parents Jumping into the IEP Process

Published: Oct. 6, 2022Updated: Aug. 12, 2024

What do parents need to know about being a part of their child's IEP team? We asked Undivided parent Ruth about her experience helping prepare her son’s IEP for the first time and what advice she would give to other parents tackling the IEP process. In working with Undivided Navigator Will to prepare for this school year, Ruth learned the art of fighting for what matters. Here are the top takeaways from the conversation in our Unite and Conquer event series.

Do one thing at a time

When Ruth first received her son’s diagnosis, she was overwhelmed by all the recommendations for public benefit programs, IEP acronyms (including “IEP” itself!), and confusion about where her son could get services. On top of all that, she worried about what these changes meant for her son and his new world.

Ruth’s advice to parents is to make space to feel all the emotions that come with such a big transition. It’s tempting to want to jump right in and tackle all the services our kids need, but Ruth emphasizes the importance of doing just one thing at a time. Hear her story in this clip:

Organize and prioritize

Ruth worked with Undivided Navigator Will when she needed help in a disagreement with her IEP team. Step one was to review all the paperwork involved, and then Will helped Ruth identify her short-term and long-term priorities to make a plan. Listen to this clip to hear how the two of them used the organizational tools in the Undivided app to work together as a team:

Pick your battles

As parents, of course we want the best for our kids. Ruth reminds us, however, that it’s unlikely we’ll get 100% of our wishlist from the school district. Schools and teachers have limits, so it’s important to focus on what our kids need and the supports that will fulfill those needs. Listen to her advice in this clip:

Thank you to Ruth and Will who answered questions during our event! If you missed the event or want to review what we learned, you can catch the full recording here.

Keep an eye on our Facebook page to learn more about upcoming events, and join our private Facebook group to keep the discussion going.

Contents

Overview

Do one thing at a time

Organize and prioritize

Pick your battles

Join for free

Save your favorite resources and access a custom Roadmap.

Get Started

Share this with a friend

Tags:

Related Resources

IEP Meeting Preparation

3 Tips from Parents for Advocating for Your Child in an IEP Meeting

How to Prepare for Your Child’s First IEP

Related Video Clips

Unite and Conquer: Undivided Parent Isabelle's Top 3 Tips

Best Prep for IEP Meetings

Author

Brittany OlsenUndivided Editor

An editor and cartoonist who loves using words and images to simplify and share ideas. She has ten years of experience as a copy editor and lives near Portland, Oregon. She often spends her free time going on nature walks with her dog or trying new bread recipes.

Reviewed by Lindsay Crain, Undivided Head of Content and Community

Each piece of content has been rigorously researched, edited, and vetted to bring you the latest and most up-to-date information. Learn more about our content and research process here.

Give feedback to the Undivided team

A Navigator is your Partner at each turn

Every Undivided Navigator has years of experience supporting families raising kids with disabilities or parenting their own. Partner with an Undivided Navigator for a free Kickstart to learn first hand what support feels like!