It can be extremely overwhelming and frustrating when beginning this process but, I promise, it's totally worth it being your child's greatest advocate! I would suggest buying or downloading a copy of "From Emotions to Advocacy-The Special Education Survival Guide" by Pete and Pam Wright (they have a Kindle version for only 12.95). It's a super easy read filled with TONS of information. You can get it on their website at www.wrightslaw.com. You can also read through the website because it's also filled with information that will be helpful for you. I am in the process of becoming a parent advocate so you can feel free to contact me and I will help you any way I can (free of charge of course!) Just PM me! :)

IEP meetings are not to bad most times, if the school system is good, they do actually try to help you out most times. I do however advise that you stick to your guns, and if you think that there is something your child needs that they are not getting, because lets face it if they do not have to spend extra money they won't. We fought to get my daughter a fridge and microwave in her classroom, and they did not want to give it to us, but they did after we would not leave it alone. We even told them we would pay for it, but they would have it in the class, and they finally just did it on their own because they knew we were serious and were not going to leave it alone. (my daughter on eats select foods). we also have it set up for my daughter to do full days all year round, and they have contracted New England Childrens center to come into their school and run the program for my daughter which is costing them a pretty penny, but my daughter needs better qualified people, and they did not have any that could handle her.

A paraprofessional would be an aide. I highly recommend buying a copy of the NoLo Complete IEP Guide by Lawrence Siegel. Definitely worth the $25 pricetag IMHO.

Im in the exact same boat! Panicking right now because i dont know what to do. Thanks so much for posting this.

Visit www.wrightslaw.com for all kinds of tips on iep prep, record keeping, team building, documentation, tests, requesting services etc...and good luck, breathe.