Prepare adolescents for IEP (Individual Education Plan) meetings
IEPs (or ILPs – Individual Learning Plans) are generated in meetings between teachers and families. They outline a student’s interests, strengths, areas of need, and supports and accommodations students may need to achieve learning or social goals.
Adolescents should be a part of their IEP meetings
Prepare your adolescent to communicate their:
- interests and strengths;
- goals;
- needs;
- barriers to success; and
- opinions on how they could be best supported at school.
Foster self-determination: set personal goals, discuss needs, preferences, and solutions. Make scripts, develop ideas, and rehearse discussions with their teachers.
Review and adjust the IEP regularly with the whole team during the school year.
Got questions?
Get in touch with our Senior Speech Pathologist, Juliana Li.
References:
(1) Perryman T, Ricks L, Cash-Baskett L. Meaningful Transitions: Enhancing Clinician Roles in Transition Planning for Adolescents With Autism Spectrum Disorders. Lang Speech Hear Serv Sch. 2020 Oct 2;51(4):899-913.
(2) Abendroth, Kathleen & Whited, Jennifer. (2021). Motivation, Rapport, and Resilience: Three Pillars of Adolescent Therapy to Shift the Focus to Adulthood. Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups. 6. 1254-1262.
