In her article, The Special Education Charade, Tracy Thompson discusses the IEP dance she’s had to perform on behalf of her child for many years in Maryland. She describes the exhaustion, stress, and anxiety that often accompany working with school systems to get the right IEP and environment for a child. She does not blame school systems. The majority of school systems, teachers, administrators, are doing the best they can for the majority of students. But the cost to provide for a child in special education is high, and sometimes, the school system’s best efforts fall short of what is right for the child.
IEP meetings involve so many acronyms and legal jargon, it’s often difficult for parents to keep up. For these reasons, it is incredibly important to do your homework. Look up the laws and understand your rights. If you do not have the time or energy to do it yourself, hire someone who can help you understand.
If your head is spinning trying to understand all of the options for your child, don’t hesitate to reach out. We offer simple consultations to help parents understand their rights and their child’s IEP. We hold workshops that cover a range of topics related to special education. If you have questions about your child’s IEP, feel free to contact Family Legal Advocacy Group at (410) 884-0400.