As parents, we all want our kids to thrive at school, but sometimes things don’t go as smoothly as we’d hoped. When it comes to IEPs — whether it’s accommodations, modifications, placement, or inclusion — we just want everything to come together in a way that truly supports our children. But sometimes, wanting all the pieces of an IEP to come together perfectly can feel like an impossible ask. Especially when challenges arise and we find ourselves asking:
- What do I do when my child’s modifications don’t feel appropriate and isolate them from their peers?
- What if teachers are inconsistently following the modifications and accommodations in my child’s IEP?
- What can I do if I want my child to stay at the school closest to home, but the district disagrees?
- How do I advocate for a more (or less) restrictive environment when no one seems to hear me?
- What if my child is struggling to connect and make friends in their general education classroom, but I still want inclusion to work?
- It took so much advocacy to get an inclusive placement — how do I speak up without ‘rocking the boat?’
It’s frustrating to see your child struggle in a setting that’s supposed to support them, and it can feel overwhelming to figure out what to do next. So the question is: what do we do when it’s just not working?! This week, we’re answering that question.
We’ll guide you through the steps to troubleshoot these challenges — from communicating with teachers, case managers, and IEP teams, to adding best practices into the IEP, and even what to do if legal action becomes necessary. Plus, we’ll highlight common pitfalls to avoid so you can confidently advocate for your child every step of the way.
Dive into these resources on everything you need to know about what to do when accommodations, modifications, placement, and inclusion aren’t working the way they “should” be. You’ll also find tips on advocating for your child at school (with teachers and IEP teams) and all the info you need about your rights as a parent, and what to do during educational disagreements.
What to do when it’s not working:
- What to Do When Your Child’s Placement Isn’t Working
- What to Do When “Inclusion” Isn’t Working
- What to Do If Teachers Aren’t Implementing IEP Accommodations
- What to Do When Modifications Aren’t Working as They Should
Plus, check out 4 Tips for Communicating with Your Child’s Teacher and The 5 Most Important Things to Remember When Advocating in an IEP.
Know your rights:
- Parental Participation and Procedural Safeguards
- Stay Put 101
- What Is Prior Written Notice (PWN)?
- What You Need to Know About Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)
- Due Process 101: Background, Preparation, and How to Approach Disputes (Part 1)
- Due Process 101: Filing for Due Process, Mediation, and the Hearing (Part 2)
- Special Education Attorneys and Advocates: What’s the Difference?
Goals to add to your Undivided account → Save these goals to your Undivided account for step-by-step guides to help you find an education attorney, resolve a dispute between you and your IEP team, and ensure your child’s IEP is being followed.
As one of our parent members told Undivided, “Thank you so much. I truly am grateful for all your help. This is uncharted territory for us and I feel confident we can plan what my children need.”
Did you miss our IHSS workshop training series? No worries! If you’re an Undivided member, you can catch all the replays right in the app:
- In-Home Supportive Services Basics
- IHSS Protective Supervision
- IHSS Paramedical and Personal Care Services
Join us for expert office hours
This week, we’re in office hours with Non-Attorney Education Advocate Karen Ford Cull on Wednesday, March 19 at 12:00 p.m PT. Karen’s focus is on inclusion, so if you have questions about helping your child access general education, be sure to attend! If you’re not an Undivided member yet, get started here to join us for office hours every week!
Tune in to watch this Undivided Conversation: The 5 Most Important Things to Remember When Advocating in an Individualized Education Plan (IEP)
Once you’ve done all your IEP prep work, how do you make sure the IEP meeting itself goes smoothly and covers all your concerns? Join us Friday, March 7 at 12:00 p.m PT for a deep dive conversation with Undivided’s Non-Attorney Education Advocate Lisa Carey to learn more about how to make sure our priorities get covered in an IEP meeting, red flags to watch out for, and other tips to help us advocate for our kids’ needs in school. Catch the convo on our Facebook page!
Have you worked with your IEP team to successfully resolve a concern? We’d love to hear about it! Share your win in our private Facebook group→
Who doesn’t love a Pinterest moment? Don’t miss out on the latest tips and info to support your child with a disability! Follow Undivided on Pinterest @undividedapp for fresh articles, expert advice, and videos packed with insight — all ready to pin and save for later!
Although “stay put” can be useful while you’re resolving a dispute with your IEP team, here are a few times when it doesn’t apply. Hear this explanation from non-attorney education advocate Lisa M. Carey→
How can you tell whether your child is making progress with their current accommodations, modifications, or services? Check out these tips for monitoring your child’s progress→
If you’ve worked with an education attorney or advocate who really made a difference for your family, share the word! Spotlight them on our LinkedIn page→
