Top Ten signs ... that you're going to have a bad IEP meeting

By Colleen F. Tomko

10. The IEP invitation lists "drive-thru" hours.
9. When you get to the meeting, the staff wants to know what you are doing there.
8. They give you complimentary white flags and tissues.
7. Your child's student ID # is 666.
6. They try to convince you that the attending speech therapist really is the janitor's identical twin.
5. You find yourself explaining that...the regs say they can use IU's for related services, not I-O-U's.
4. The special ed coordinator says "Have we got a place for your kid!"
3. They think "inclusion" is some type of venereal disease.
2. The staff is bumming because their label maker burned out.
1. You over hear the staff talking about the Least "resisted" environment.


AND Another ten signs that you are going to have a bad IEP meeting.

10. You are greeted outside the building.
9. No seat for you at the table.
8. Everyone is smiling.
7. The Supt. of Schools calls while you are there.
6. The Principal announces that she/he will attend the entire meeting.
5. Everyone tells you that they already know your child.
4. The Guidance Counselor asks you, again, for your phone number.
3. Guidance Counselor tells you that they know you don't need another copy of "Guidelines for Special Education."
2. They act disappointed that your child is not in attendance.
1. They announce Special Ed kids will now wear uniforms so that the staff can easily identify them and provide all necessary support.


AND YET Another six signs that you are going to have a bad IEP meeting.
from NDMommy5@aol.com

6. When they start the IEP with a prayer.
5. When they ask to update the social history with "There haven't been any more children ..........have there?"
4. When you have your own coffee mug in the conference room.
3. When the chairman knows how you like your coffee, prepares your coffee ....then sniffs it first!!
2. When they start the meeting by explaining that the teacher's union will absorb any costs that your homeowners will not cover regarding the therapy needed by the last classroom teacher.
1. The REAL trouble occurs when the chairman goes to straighten his tie AND THERE IS NO REFLECTION IN THE MIRROR.