As I’m getting ready for yet another IEP meeting for my child who has a 504, it struck me that I have a number of favorite IEP books I’ve relied on over the years in helping me prepare.
And while being prepared is not a guarantee in getting the accommodations you want for your child, it will certainly help you know what to advocate for and what questions to ask to help your child the best you can.
You can find many of these books to help you prepare for your upcoming IEP meeting or 504 review at your local library or purchase through the affiliate link provided for your convenience.
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My Favorite IEP Meeting Prep Books
Wrightslaw: All About IEPs: In this comprehensive, easy to read book, you will find clear, concise answers to frequently asked questions about IEPs. Learn what the law says about IEP Teams and IEP Meetings, Parental Rights and Consent, Steps in Developing the IEP, Placement, Transition, Assistive Technology and Strategies to Resolve Disagreements.
IEPs: Writing Quality Individualized Education Programs (3rd Edition): Here’s practical help for mastering the process of developing and writing quality individualized education programs (IEPs). This best-selling, essential resource includes step-by-step instructions backed by examples, practice, and feedback to help users gain the critical skills and knowledge they need to write effective IEPs, meet the standards of IDEA, and ultimately plan instruction for students with disabilities. Guide to Writing Quality Individualized Education Programs includes an easy-to-understand summary of IDEA 2004; a workable organization of the IEP process into seven manageable steps; explanations, modeling, practice, and feedback for mastering each step of the process; and a brief procedural summary at the end of each step.
Wrightslaw: Special Education Law, 2nd Edition: Wrightslaw: Special Education Law, 2nd Edition provides a clear roadmap to the laws and how to get better services for all children with disabilities. This Wrightslaw publication is an invaluable resource for parents, advocates, educators, and attorneys. You will refer to this book again and again.
Wrightslaw: From Emotions to Advocacy: The Special Education Survival Guide: Wrightslaw: From Emotions to Advocacy, second edition will teach you how to plan, prepare, organize and get quality special education services. In this comprehensive, easy-to-read book, you will learn your childs disability and educational needs, how to create a simple method for organizing your childs file and devising a master plan for your childs special education. You will understand parent-school conflict, how to create paper trails and effective letter writing. This book includes dozens of worksheets, forms and sample letters that you can tailor to your needs. Whether you are new to special education or an experienced advocate this book will provide a clear roadmap to effective advocacy for your child. You will use this book again and again.
The Inclusion Toolbox: Strategies and Techniques for All Teachers: Featuring materials relevant to all stages of implementation, The Inclusion Toolbox is an all-in-one resource that combines research-based strategies and practical tools to help you design and implement a truly inclusive education program.
The IEP from A to Z: How to Create Meaningful and Measurable Goals and Objectives: The IEP From A to Z is a step-by-step guide showing teachers and parents how to get the right education plan in place for students with ADHD, Autism/Asperger’s, Emotional/Behavioral Disturbance, and related conditions.
Writing Measurable IEP Goals and Objectives: A guide to quick and effective writing of accurate and measurable IEP goals and objectives. IEPs are necessary, required by law and when done properly can be extremely helpful in guiding the student’s educational trajectory. This book, written by two of the foremost special educators and IEP legal experts is designed to bring you up to speed whether you’re just entering the field or have worked in it for years.
The IEP Checklist: Your Guide to Creating Meaningful and Compliant IEPs: How can you design effective IEPs that improve student outcomes and meet legal requirements? This one-stop IEP guide has the answers your team needs to create great IEPs and put them into action. You’ll start with a solid introduction to IEPs: their purpose, their major components, and the legal mandates they need to meet. Then you’ll get a comprehensive framework for IEP development, featuring a unique, in-depth checklist that breaks the whole IEP process into small, manageable steps and walks you through each one. Packed with invaluable planning tips, vivid examples, and practice activities, this book is your whole school team’s step-by-step guide to meaningful, legally compliant IEPs that help students reach their goals and meet state standards.
Recommended Reading
- 5 Important Things to Do During an IEP Meeting
- The Secrets To School Success For A Sensory Kid
- Top 10 Things to Know About IEPs
- All About IEPs
- Writing Measurable IEP Goals and Objectives
- 50 Ways to Support Your Child’s Special Education
This is a great list of resources! As a SpEd teacher, I’ll refer to these. It might be good to look into the differences between IEP and 504. They are similar in that they provide accommodations, but they are different and a student would have one or the other, not both. Keep working with your child’s team and keep advocating!
Does anybody in South Africa know how EIP or 504 work and who can I contact in Pretoria area regarding this?