Скачать или смотреть Special Education Advocacy: How Parents Can Master IEP and ARD Meetings

Are you feeling overwhelmed by the ARD (Admission, Review, and Dismissal) process for your special needs child? This comprehensive guide helps parents navigate IEP meetings with confidence and advocate effectively for their children's educational needs.

In this video, our special education consultant breaks down everything you need to know about preparing for ARD meetings and understanding your child's Individualized Education Program (IEP).

📋 CHAPTERS:
0:00 Introduction to ARD Process
1:30 Understanding Your Role as Parent Advocate
3:00 The Five Key Areas of an IEP
3:15 - Page 1: Student Identification Information
4:00 - PLAF: Present Levels of Academic Achievement
5:00 - Annual Goals Section
6:00 - Accommodations and Services
6:45 - Schedule of Services
7:30 How to Review Your IEP Draft
9:00 Questions to Ask During ARD Meetings
10:30 Brighton Center Support Services

🎯 KEY TAKEAWAYS:
You are the driver of your child's educational journey
Always request the IEP draft before meetings
Know the 5 critical sections to review carefully
Ask "Why?" for every recommendation
Advocate based on your child's unique needs

📞 NEED SUPPORT? Brighton Center's Special Education Support Services team is here to help San Antonio families navigate the ARD process.

The admission review and dismissal or ARD process can be overwhelming, especially for
parents new to the special education world. There are documents, forms, and reports
to track. There are also processes and timelines to be aware of and understand how
they impact your child's education and support services. It's easy for parents to
feel lost in understanding it all. As a special education support services consultant,
I prepare families on what to expect during an ARD meeting and let them know that
everyone on the committee is focused on doing what is best for the student. However,
as the parent of children with disabilities, I know that it's my job to advocate
for the support and services my children need to do well in school and to be
prepared for life after school. This advocacy starts by being prepared for the ARD
meeting. My goal today is to help you understand the importance your advocacy role
and provide suggestions on ways to be prepared for the yard meeting so you don't
feel lost. The first thing parents need to understand is that they are in the
driver's seat for this entire process. They should think with the end in mind and
have an idea of what they want their child's life after school to look like. Think
of the yard committee as passengers in the car you're driving. As the parent, it is
your job to make sure they provide your child with the education support and
services needed to prepare your student for their destination, which can be additional
education, employment, or independent living. You,
as the driver, steer the committee in the direction you want to go. These directions
are captured in the Individualized Education Program, or IEP. We all know how
important it is to have the right directions on a map when you're traveling
somewhere for the first time, right? Well, it's just as important to double check
the information on an IEP because it is the map that contains the information about
what services and support your child will receive at school. Let's review the five
main areas of an IEP. I tell parents they must look at carefully before attending
an ARD meeting. We'll start with the first page.

This is where you'll find identification information about your child, including name,
age, student ID number, eligibility status, and the date the paperwork was produced.
It's important that all this information is correct, especially the date. Next up is
the PLAF. This stands for Present Levels of Academic Achievement and Functional
performance. The PLAF includes information on all areas affected by the student's
disability and how the disability impacts the student's progress within the IEP year.
It must also include the student's strengths and areas of need. The third area to
review is the annual goal section. These goals are based on the information in the
PLAF statement and include academic and functional as well as behave your goals when
necessary. They should be measurable and describe how they will be measured. There
should also be a statement about when you can expect to receive progress reports on
your child's progress towards these goals.

The SES team at Brighton is available right alongside you and provides guidance and
support. We can show you how to organize an IEP binder, provide suggestions on ways
to communicate with the school, and we can attend ART meetings with you.

Contact Brighton Center San Antonio: 210-826-4492 | https://www.brightonsa.org/

💡 Remember: You are your child's best advocate! With the right knowledge and approach, you can ensure they receive the education and support they deserve.