“Be Prepared to Fight Like Hell”: Parent Advice for IEP Meetings

ABSTRACT The individualized education program (IEP) process can be difficult for many parents of children with disabilities to navigate. Analyzing qualitative data from a national, web-based survey, this study examined parent experiences during IEP meetings, as well as advice parents have for other families participating in the IEP process. Participants included 803 parents of school-aged students with disabilities who had a current IEP from across the U.S. Results indicated that parent experiences during IEP meetings varied; however, over half of respondents described negative experiences. Further, parents offered advice for others participating in IEP meetings regarding preparedness, support, advocacy, the potential for negative meetings, being a team member, and strategies and tips for successful parent involvement in educational planning. Implications for practice and policy are discussed.