While I think the first meeting can be a little scary, remember what it is all about: helping your child succeed in school. I think it's good to go to the first meeting with notes about what you think they need to know about your child, and some ideas on what you think will be needed for your child to thrive, and then sit back and see what the others have to say. Once you know where they are coming from, you can decide what input from your notes is needed. And, as another poster pointed out, you do not have to sign onto any of the recommendations, if your instinct is that they are not appropriate (this has not been a problem for us; my son's IEP team is fabulous).
It can be a little difficult to hear strangers put into clinical terms what is "wrong" with your child. I remember being shocked by the OT's report that my 7 year old son had the physical development of a 4 year old. But, you know what? None of that defines your child. It is simply the criteria by which they can judge what is and isn't being accomplished once the IEP is in place. Your child is a unique and special gift, and no amount of "below normals" on a chart is going to change that. You hold onto that and remember that everything being done at that meeting is with one goal: helping your child succeed in school.
Good luck. If you have a good special educaiton team, it gets a lot easier! Over time, you will come to appreciate this team of professionals all interested in helping your child shine.
27 Feb 2008, 6:00 pm
