Our Complete Family Guide to the IEP

Families need clear, easy to understand guidance on how to navigate the IEP process.

Last year, our inaugural cohort of parent leaders reviewed the results of our community-centered IEP survey. One need stood out above all others: access to information.

In response, our Fellows began compiling a list of all the things they wished they had known when they first started their own journeys as parents of students with disabilities. The original plan was to create a toolkit that served as a quick and easy reference for families. However, it quickly became clear that all of the information families might need would not fit into toolkit format. So we created both. Our IEP toolkit (37 pages) can be found here. Our Complete Family Guide to the IEP (170+ pages) can be accessed by clicking on the buttons above.

What's inside:

• Your child's rights under federal and California special education law

• How to know if your child needs an IEP, and how to get started

• The assessment process, including how to request an evaluation

• What goes into an IEP and how to prepare for meetings

• How to resolve disagreements with your school district

• Guidance for students with intersectional needs

• An overview of the changing special education landscape

• Self-Advocate perspective and advice

• Key takeaways at the end of every chapter

• Ready-to-use letter templates, a meeting checklist, a glossary, and a list of resources

• Available in English and Spanish

This is a living document, and we want to hear from you. If you have questions, comments, or suggestions, or notice information that should be updated or added, please email us at info@speducational.org