Jennie Bourgeois

Parents need to stick to the facts and treat all communications as if it were a business transaction rather than it being personal.  If emotions are high, parents can write everything down instead of trying to verbalize the emotionally charged information.  In writing you have more time to think about your words carefully and the response you get back will also tend to be well thought out and carefully worded as well.  Emotional investments of parents of children with special needs are often very great and it is understandable that emotions may run high at times.

Emotional reactions may also involve people other than just the parents including teachers and related service providers.  They are directly involved with the educational impact of the child.  There is usually a lot going on behind the scenes that many parents do not understand that is outside of the control of the teacher or service provider.  Many time policies and politics may affect what is taking place and prevent them from doing what they want to do.  Also, many times teachers are often not properly trained to provide the services and resources that they are being required to provide.  Teachers and administrators need to leave their personal emotions outside of the IEP meeting.  When parents bring in a professional advocate, teachers or administrators may view that as being challenged or adversarial.  Attitudes and emotions can be affected when this occurs.  Ethical conduct needs to occur regardless by the professionals in the IEP meeting.

Administrators can also become passionate about the issues involved with special education needs and services.  Often times administrators are most concerned with cost concerns of providing the necessary services.  Administrators need to figure out how they will paid for the required services rather than whether they will be in compliance or not.     Administrators have to walk a fine line and this can sometimes be misinterpreted by the parents or advocates in an IEP meeting.  There are many times behind the scenes actions taking place that the parents are not aware about.

Parents can feel powerless in the situation and see their children suffering and teachers can feel caught in the middle as well as the administrators feeling stuck between providing services and balancing their budget.  Administrators personal opinions can influence the eventual outcome.  Everyone needs to understand the pressures and perspectives of all members on the IEP team to have better insight into different positions and opposing views.

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