I am setting up an IEP for my daughter and doing cognitive therapy. She is almost 6. I have an almost 3 year old son and a 4 month old daughter and my husband also works. He clocks in at 5 am and works till 5:30 pm 6 days a week. He is the provider and I take care of the children and the house. There is nothing wrong with you handling your business! More power to you! I do it all myself. You just have to stand your ground, be knowledgeable about what you need and want for your child and be their biggest advocate. Your the mother what you say goes. You know your situation and your child better than anybody else!!

A lot of school still have the philosophy that moms are too emotional. I would bring a friend or another relative if possible just to have a second set of ears. Also I would bring a tape recorder and place it in the middle of the table and say because my husband could not attend I am recording it for him. Then you do not need to sign the IEP that day. I believe you have up to 10 days. This way your husband can listen to all the recommendations and reports, if he wants something added or deleted you can contact your caseworker and then sign the IEP if it is what you want. Just remember you do not need to sign the IEP at the meeting and you can record it as long as they know.

It depends on your State. My daughter was not on Maryland Medicaid, so she did not have a case worker. It was up to my husband, my mom, and I to attend the meetings. In 3rd grade I went to an IEP meeting alone, and came out crying. The principal let the OT, and Speech Therapist tell me that they could not teach my daughter whom is now 19 years old and getting ready to graduate in early June. These are two educators whom are trained to teach a special education student. I called the Student Services Liasion at the Board of Education, and wrote a letter to the school. None of the three educators were in the school when my daughter went to fourth grade. I have stated many times in my messages to not let anyone to use the word NEVER to you about your son or daughter. Find a friend or relative, to come to the meeting, because you just do not know whom will be for or against you at the meeting.

Our ABA agency sends either the case manager or her supervisor to any meeting that discusses my child's progress, goals, or placement.

You do have 15 days to sign and agree to the IEP. I would bring a tape recorder and let them know you would like to tape it so your husband is able to be part of the meeting even though he could not attend due to work obligations. If anyone objects to that you should ask them to state there name and the reason why. There should be no reason for them to object. While your in that 15 day period and reading over the IEP some wording to look out for would be if they end anything with "as determined by the classroom/general ed teacher and special ed teachers. Once those words are in there and you have signed you can object. but the spec ed teacher will come back and tell you they are following the IEP. example: They tell you they have been letting your child work in the hallway when they are frustrated to help with distractions. You think that sounds good however in the IEP it is written " xxx will have a quiet workspace to work away from peers to reduce his/her distractability as determined by the gen ed/classroom teacher and spec ed teacher." That means they make the decision. So once the IEP is signed if your child feels frustrated and they need a place to work that is not distracting and one of the teachers decides they should no longer have it there really is not much you can do except call a full IEP meeting. Which is not a quick process or a IEP review, and then if you still object it goes farther. They can come back and quote the IEP and you signed it. Please look it over closely, the words "as determined by the gen ed teacher/classroom teacher/special ed teacher are in the IEP more then a few times. Among other things. I highly recommend taking a traing from PACER, Autism Speaks ECT.. to help be the best advocate for your child you can be. There generally is no cost.