2021 Inclusion Collaborative Conference

The Individualized Education Plan (IEP) process is intended to utilize collaboration to support each child in meeting their full potential. Too often, however, the deficit language in IEPs shifts collaboration away from a strengths-based approach and creates social and emotional stress causing parent dissatisfaction and a decline in involvement. In this session, participants take the perspective of a parent navigating a deficit-based system and its emotional impact on the mindset of a parent with special needs. We hope to begin to answering the question, "How can our language choice support social and emotional engagement for all stakeholders?"