Getting ready for Team Meetings

Sooner or later you will likely be invited to attend a team meeting about your child. This may be a meeting of professionals from a clinic, a hospital, or a school. Some parents may find these meetings intimidating. Below are some successful hints from other parents:

GETTING PREPARED

• Write a list of questions and concerns you would like discussed at the meeting.

• List your child’s strengths.

• List the things you would like your child to be able to do within the next year — your goals and objectives, the skills and knowledge you hope he will acquire. Be realistic and specific.

• List the types of services and professionals you feel will be needed in order for those goals and objectives to be accomplished. It may be necessary for you to make some compromises. Ahead of time, consider your priorities and on which of them you are unwilling to yield.

• List any possible disagreements or conflicts. Write down possible solutions to any of these problems. Sometimes professionals are more willing to adjust a plan or attempt to solve a problem, if you are able to suggest some possible alternatives.

• Invite a spouse or a friend to attend with you. One of you should be prepared to take notes at the meeting. It may be possible to record the meeting on audio or videotape.

• Bring all of your child’s records and reports to the meeting.

• Become knowledgeable about the law, your child’s rights to an appropriate education, and about funding for special services. Find out what type and amount of funding for which your child is eligible.

• Request the services of a language interpreter if required. It is important to reduce the possibility of misunderstandings between you and the professionals when sharing information about your child.
  

AT THE MEETING

• Be on time.

• Find out how much time has been allowed for this meeting. State at the
  beginning what you want included on the agenda (what you want discussed)
  during this meeting.

• Be friendly. Don’t start the meeting by acting as though you are ready to do
  battle. (This can put professionals on the defensive, and they may be more
  reluctant to see things from your perspective.)

• Take notes to help you recall specific points of discussion.

• Ask for an explanation of any terms you do not understand. Say: “It is
  important to me to understand everything we discuss here today, so I may be
  stopping some of you to ask for clarification of a term I am not familiar with.”

• Praise team members who have been helpful, or who you feel have been
  doing a good job with your child.

• Try to help solve problems (offer possible solutions), rather than lay blame.

• Don’t hesitate to question any recommendations or statements made by the
  professionals. Remember, the team is discussing your child!

• If a rule or policy is mentioned, you may want to ask to see it documented in
  writing.

• If you find yourself becoming too emotional, you may wish to ask for a brief
  break in order to collect yourself.

• Make sure the results of the meeting are summarized at the end, and that all
  recommendations are clearly stated. If the professional team has agreed to
  provide specific services for your child, make sure you keep a record of who
  will be doing what and by what date.

• If you are not in agreement with decisions made at this meeting, ask about the
  appeal process. Say: “I am not in agreement with these decisions. I understand that
  I have the right to appeal this decision. I need you to inform me of the appeal process
  in this school district, agency (or other).”