Why Your Child Needs a Strength-Based IEP

A strength-based IEP (Individualized Education Program) focuses on the whole child—strengths first—instead of blaming a student’s lack of progress on their disability. If you haven’t heard of strength-based IEPs, don’t worry! We’re here to explain why this shift in mindset and approach is powerful, and also more productive, in helping your child thrive.

1. You can help shape how teachers see your child

IEPs are often the first documents that teachers read when they get new students. This means that the material in the IEP can shape a teacher’s first impression of a student.

2. Limitation mindsets need to be challenged

People’s understanding of disabilities has been shaped by inaccurate information and a tendency to focus on deficits. Unfortunately, this can impact approaches at the school level, with educators and administrators historically having low expectations of students with disabilities. A strength-based approach to special education focuses on, and utilizes, the skills your child already has instead of focusing on limitations.

3. Your child’s long-term school experience is at stake

According to Dr. Caitlin Solone, many educators are trained to write IEPs that focus on the details of a child’s disabilities and what they’re unable to do. This is problematic because focusing on limitations in the IEP will impact the trajectory of a child’s entire school career.

4. Playing to a person’s strengths is smart

Each of us has strengths that we can lean into, and the same goes for kids with disabilities and learning differences. A strength-based IEP identifies which barriers to learning (e.g., sight, reading skills) may prevent a student from making progress. The IEP team then uses a child’s existing strengths, abilities, and interests to think creatively about how to best minimize barriers and increase access to the curriculum. This approach is smart because it focuses on strengths in service of progress.

5. Strength-based IEPs are respectful

By not focusing on limitations or deficits, strength-based IEPs position students with disabilities for who they are—valuable, capable, and contributing members of their classrooms and school communities. Every child deserves to have their abilities, possibilities, interests, and needs honored.

6. Your child’s world can expand

Focusing on a child’s strengths supports academic, social, emotional, and behavioral growth. Whether it’s providing access in the classroom through supplementary aids and services, time to engage meaningfully with non-disabled peers, or opportunities to participate in extracurricular activities (e.g., LEGO club) and other nonacademic activities (e.g., school dances), these experiences will expand a child’s world.

Any parent or caregiver can ask an IEP team to create a strength-based IEP—there’s no special form or document required! Now that you understand the “why” we can walk you through the “how” via this article on How to Develop a Strength-Based IEP. We also 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.