How Parents Can Advocate With Confidence
Walking into an IEP meeting as a parent can feel overwhelming. You sit at a long table surrounded by professionals such as teachers, specialists, administrators, each with reports, charts, and data in front of them.
And there you are, with one thing in front of you: your child.
Even as an educator who has been part of many IEP meetings, I’ll admit that sitting on the parent side of the table was intimidating. The balance felt uneven. The language felt clinical. And sometimes, the pressure to just nod along was strong.
But here’s what I learned, your voice is not just important at that table. It’s essential.
The Power of the Parent Voice in IEP Advocacy
By law, parents are equal members of the IEP team. That means your perspective matters as much as any test score or observation.
- You know your child’s strengths better than anyone.
- You see the struggles that don’t always show up in data.
- You live the daily reality of what works—and what doesn’t.
When you share that, you remind everyone that this isn’t just paperwork—it’s a child.
Practical Ways to Speak Up at Your IEP Meeting
If you’re walking into an IEP meeting, here are a few IEP strategies for parents that helped me:
- Come prepared: Write down your concerns, your child’s strengths, and examples from home. Bring your notes with you.
- Use specifics: Instead of saying, “He struggles with reading,” try: “At home, he can recognize letters, but he gets frustrated when sounding out new words.”
- Ask questions: If you don’t understand a term or service, speak up. It’s their job to explain it.
- Request breaks if needed: These meetings can be long and emotional. You’re allowed to pause.
- Balance challenges with strengths: Remind the team what your child loves, what motivates them, and what they’re good at.
Our Story: Adding the Medical Plan to the IEP
One moment stands out clearly from our journey.
During one of our first IEP meetings, services like speech, occupational therapy, and physical therapy were being discussed. Goals were being written. We were nodding along.
But then I stopped the conversation.
I knew—both as a parent and as an educator, that our son’s FPIES diagnosis couldn’t be ignored. His food allergy was severe and life-threatening. It wasn’t optional to include it in his plan.
So I spoke up.
I asked that a medical plan be written into the IEP.
It was a moment where I felt my voice mattered—and it did. The team listened, and the plan was added. That small act of advocacy gave us peace of mind, and it ensured our son was safer at school.
Encouragement for Parents: You Are Your Child’s Best Advocate
If you’re preparing for your next IEP meeting, here’s what I want you to remember:
- You belong at that table.
- You are your child’s best advocate.
- You don’t need all the jargon to make a difference, your observations and your instincts are powerful.
Your voice is not only welcome, it’s needed.
Let’s Talk About Your IEP Experience
Have you ever had to speak up at an IEP meeting for something important?
How did it go?
Share in the comments, I’d love to hear your story.
