5 IEP Red Flag Phrases + How To Handle Them

Part of advocating for your child’s needs means becoming aware of common red flags during an IEP meeting. But sometimes it can be hard to know how to push back and what to ask. Education advocate Lisa Carey shares five common IEP red flag phrases and how to handle them.

1. “We don’t do that here.”

Carey recommends gathering information by asking questions such as, “Why don’t you do that here? Can you explain that to me? Can you help me understand? Is that a policy? Can I have a copy of that policy?” After the meeting, you can look for additional information and resources, or if you’re an Undivided member, you can ask your Navigator about the situation.

2. “We’re going to cut services.”

Sometimes parents are presented with rationalizations such as, “Your child isn’t talking, so they don’t need speech,” or “They’re not making progress in OT, so we’re going to cut the service,” or “Your child met their OT goals, so we’re going to cut services.” In all cases, Carey recommends that if a change to—or end in—service is being recommended, ask for an assessment. Carey also recommends that parents test fading away a service, such as a 1:1 aide, before agreeing to remove it completely.

3. “You can’t take your AAC or AT device home on the weekends.”

When a child is given an AAC device, it should be with them 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year—with the exception of small windows of time during the school day when they might need to update the app, do a backup, or perform maintenance. Carey recommends being clear that this is your child’s voice and it should not be taken away, and ensuring that the speech therapist is involved in the conversation. Commit to signing the care document so your child can have the device at all times, including summers and holidays.

4. “You have to sign the IEP before you leave the room.”

Never sign the IEP in the meeting, even if you agree with everything! Carey notes that while you do need to sign attendance to acknowledge you were present and participated in the meeting, you do not have to sign the IEP in the room, nor is there a time requirement to sign. “You can take it home, review it, and take your time. Just know that services that are new will not start until you sign it,” says Carey.

5. “Your child is significantly delayed, and we should be focusing on functional goals.”

Functional goals could mean the school wants to focus less on academics and more on life skills such as doing laundry and dishes. Carey says, “There are some high schoolers who will be in the adult transition program, where the parents feel that is what’s best for their child. But if you feel like you want the school to focus on academics, and you’re going to focus on things like laundry, grocery shopping, and ATMs at home, then you can push back and let them know that.”

We recommend you download our free IEP prep packet, which will help you prepare for your next IEP meeting and advocate for your child with confidence.