INCLUSIVE FAMILY
The IEP and Beyond:
Navigating a Disability in School
Does My Child Really Need an
IEP plan?
An IEP plan is a legal document developed for
each special education student in the U.S. that
describes adjustments the school will provide
and goals for the child’s education.

The Pennsylvania Department of Education
(PDE) notes qualifying individuals have
a physical or mental impairment which
substantially limits one or more major life
activities. The Maryland State Bar Association
adds emotional disabilities that cause a
difficulty in learning to those criteria.

Services in Maryland are available for
ages 3-21, with early intervention options for
younger students.

22 Washington FAMILY SEPTEMBER 2022
Issa Kabeer, a teacher who works with
students in the special education program at
TECH Freire Charter School in Philadelphia,
describes what to expect from the process.

“Specialists evaluate the student for
needs and the parent agrees and consents
for the student to have this plan to support
them,” she says.

“Basically, once the evaluation is complete,
the numbers show where the child is in their
learning—not just English and math but social
skills as well. In order to be approved for the
IEP, they have to fall below a certain number
compared to where they should be,” adds Amber
Murray, whose child Alex, now 8 years old, went
through the process before first grade in Franklin
HALFPOINT / ISTOCK / GETTY IMAGES PLUS
S tarting at a new school with a
disability can be daunting. On top
of new teachers, new classes and
navigating how to get around in an unfamiliar
space, your child will have lots of questions
about how to make adjustments that would
best serve them in the classroom.

As a parent of a special education student,
you might be wondering, ‘Does my child
need an IEP plan?’ ‘How can I best help my
child succeed?’
Here’s what you need to know about the IEP
and other official accommodations that can be
put into place at the start of the school year—
plus simple ways your child can advocate for
their needs on their own.

BY HEATHER M. ROSS