IEPs: Getting emotional at IEP meetings

IEP meetings can get very emotional. It can be hard to sit in a room full of teachers and talk about your child’s needs. Sometimes, these meetings can feel overwhelming, like everyone just wants to discuss what’s wrong with your child.  

However, if your child has an IEP, or Individualized Education Program, you’ll need to attend an IEP meeting at least once a year. And one important way to prepare is to get yourself ready emotionally.

On this episode of Understood Explains, guest host Claudia Rinaldi shares some tips for making this process less stressful, and what to do if big feelings come up during the meeting.  

For more resources, including a transcript formatted for easy skimming, visit the episode page on Understood.

Timestamps:

(00:55) Getting ready emotionally

(02:32) Before the IEP meeting

(07:51) During the IEP meeting

(11:03) After the IEP meeting

(12:23) Key takeaways

Related resources

• 10 defusing phrases to use at IEP meetings
• Listen: Why we cry in IEP meetings
• The IEP meeting: An overview
• Navigating IEP meetings

Listen to Everyone Gets a Juice Box, a new podcast from Understood.org where host Jessica Shaw has honest talks with parents raising kids who learn and think differently.

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