Being an advocate I have many parents asking me for advice for meetings with their children's schools and I am always happy to help. One of the main reasons why I decided to get into advocacy was to help others. It made me very sad to realize that what is being said to parents isn't always all the information available, and I had to find that out the hard way, and I didn't want any others to go through that.
When a parent comes to me and asks for guidance my number one recommendation is always, record all meetings! As a parent you are advocating for your child, you will get emotional. I have gotten angry in meetings about my daughter and I once left one of her meetings and sat in my car and cried. When you are sitting in a meeting for your own child, it is near impossible to catch everything that is said. Emotions are high. When you record it you can go back and listen again, and you will be amazed at what you missed.
In most schools, if not all, if a parent records the meeting the school must record as well. I know that is the policy in Knox County Schools. All you need to do is send an email and inform the school that you will be recording. In the state of Tennessee only one party needs to know about the recording but I highly recommend letting the school know.
My second piece of advice is do not sign anything. You can sign that you were in attendance but do not sign that you agree with something when you don't. Even if you do agree with an IEP for example, tell the rest of the team that you would like a few days to look it over and that you would like a copy of all papers. Go back and listen to your recording and make sure you are indeed happy with what those papers say.
Last thing I always tell parents, remember you are a part of the team. No decisions can be made without your input. I was at a recent meeting where a team member suggested that the parent fill out a parent input form. I had never been asked to fill one out about my daughter. Interesting realization for me. Even advocates need advocates.
When a parent comes to me and asks for guidance my number one recommendation is always, record all meetings! As a parent you are advocating for your child, you will get emotional. I have gotten angry in meetings about my daughter and I once left one of her meetings and sat in my car and cried. When you are sitting in a meeting for your own child, it is near impossible to catch everything that is said. Emotions are high. When you record it you can go back and listen again, and you will be amazed at what you missed.
In most schools, if not all, if a parent records the meeting the school must record as well. I know that is the policy in Knox County Schools. All you need to do is send an email and inform the school that you will be recording. In the state of Tennessee only one party needs to know about the recording but I highly recommend letting the school know.
My second piece of advice is do not sign anything. You can sign that you were in attendance but do not sign that you agree with something when you don't. Even if you do agree with an IEP for example, tell the rest of the team that you would like a few days to look it over and that you would like a copy of all papers. Go back and listen to your recording and make sure you are indeed happy with what those papers say.
Last thing I always tell parents, remember you are a part of the team. No decisions can be made without your input. I was at a recent meeting where a team member suggested that the parent fill out a parent input form. I had never been asked to fill one out about my daughter. Interesting realization for me. Even advocates need advocates.
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