The Current Atmosphere for Students in IEP and 504 Plan Meetings

While taking to a high school principal in a local area, he mentioned that IEP meetings are ran by teachers.  Teachers and other faculty are the ones who create the IEP and often the parents do not know the jargon or the legal terms that are involves so they really have no say in the IEP process. The same happens in 504 meetings, that is, if a meeting even takes place. In a 504 plan no meeting with the parents, student, and teacher is required. Unlike an IEP, a 504 plan doesn't have to be a written document an no meeting is necessary. The school has to inform the parents that there will be changes made to their students learning but unless parents know that they can ask for a meeting nothing will come of it. Teachers can make these plans with no aid from the student or the parents (Educational Advocacy). 
I had the opportunity to speak with a student who has a 504 plan for ADHD and Anxiety. His parents are advocates for his learning but they have not taught him how to be an advocate for himself. The student mentioned that he almost never speaks in his 504 meeting because he does not know what to say to get what he needs. The student also has no concept of what he needs in classes. He has not been taught self advocacy so he is not aware that he has the ability to speak out in this meeting that is run by adults (Laramee, 2018).
The current atmosphere in a 504 and IEP meeting is one that is heavily focused on adult conversations that do not involve the student. An article by Christine Mason, Marcy McGahee-Kovac, and Lora Johnson, says, "we believe that increasing students responsibility for their IEP's can influence student and parent buy-in and involvement in the IEP process." there needs to be a change in the system to involve students because it can result in many positive benefits for the student in social and educational terms (Mason, 2004). 



Refrences:

Educational Advocacy: The ABCs of IEPs and 504 Plans. (n.d.). Retrieved October 23, 2018, from https://www.mda.org/sites/default/files/Educational_Advocacy.pdf
Laramee, B. R. (2018, October 5). 504 Plan [Personal interview].

Mason, C. Y., McGahee-Kovac, M., & Johnson, L. (2004). How to Help Students Lead Their IEP Meetings. TEACHING Exceptional Children, 36(3), 18–24. https://doi.org/10.1177/004005990403600302




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