IEP meetings can be a source of stress for educators and families—but with advance planning, appropriate followup, and sensitivity to everyone’s needs, these critical meetings can be smooth and productive. Adapted from The Educator’s Handbook for Inclusive School Practices, by Julie Causton & Chelsea P. Tracy-Bronson, today’s post walks you through some important things to do before, during, and after the IEP meeting to ensure that everyone in attendance is prepared and supported. A Month Before the IEP Meeting Have a conversation with the family. Tell them about the typical format of the ..read more

What is person-centered planning (PCP), and how can it benefit students with support needs in inclusive education? PCP is a type of structured conversation in which people who are very familiar with the student come together to consider options, express a vision for the future, identify potential barriers, determine supports, and design an action plan to reach desired goals. Today we’re sharing a little more detail about each of these basic steps, and how a PCP interview can help teams develop goals and work toward outcomes that are high priority and personally relevant to the student.   ..read more

Many critical decisions are made during an IEP meeting for a student with support needs, so effective and timely followup—with families, students, and other team members—is essential. Today’s post offers a checklist of to-do items to follow after the meeting is over. Excerpted and adapted from Equitable and Inclusive IEPs for Students with Complex Support Needs by Andrea L. Ruppar & Jennifer A. Kurth, these action items will help you follow up successfully, ensure there’s a plan for implementing the IEP, and start the team on a path to success. Organize Before You Go Home Make sure you ha ..read more

Family participation is an essential part of a successful IEP process, but persistent barriers can often derail family involvement. Today’s post highlights solutions to four of these common barriers. Excerpted and adapted from Equitable and Inclusive IEPs for Students with Complex Support Needs by Andrea L. Ruppar & Jennifer A. Kurth—a new book releasing this month!—these tips will help you improve family–school partnerships during the IEP process. Barrier 1: Alienating jargon and acronyms Solution: Communicate clearly and frequently Often, jargon and acronyms become second nature to educa ..read more

As students with disabilities approach adult life beyond high school, they’ll need critical self-determination skills to identify their dreams and goals and advocate for the future they want. Student IEPs are the perfect vehicle for teaching essential components of self-determination. By learning to participate actively—and play a leading role—in an IEP meeting, students can learn and practice key skills like choice-making, goal-setting, and self-advocacy. In today’s post, excerpted and adapted from Paul Wehman’s Essentials of Transition Planning, we’re sharing some 7 practical guidelines ..read more

Curriculum modifications are an important tool for fully including students with disabilities, increasing their access to the general curriculum, and helping them make progress. Today on the blog, we’re welcoming Nicole Eredics—inclusion expert and author of the popular guidebook Inclusion in Action—to talk about a few strategies any teacher can use to modify their curriculum. Read on for Nicole’s wisdom on making your curriculum more accessible to all learners! *** Over the years, people have asked me how to fully include students with disabilities in the same general education classroom as t ..read more

The post 4 Types of Accommodations and Modifications to Support Student Success appeared first on Brookes Blog ..read more

The post Culturally Responsive Collaboration: Your Key to Successful Transition IEPs appeared first on Brookes Blog ..read more

With so much at stake, IEP meetings can often feel stressful for everyone involved. But if a meeting is well-planned, well-organized, and skillfully managed, chances are good that the team members will feel reassured, respected, and ready to collaborate. As schools resume face-to-face learning and in-person meetings—whether now or in the fall—how can you plan and manage IEP meetings while juggling all your other tasks? Today’s post, excerpted and adapted from several Brookes books, offers you some practical tips on getting organized before the IEP meeting, keeping it on track, and following up ..read more