IEP Binder Printable

An IEP stands for Individual Education Plan, a plan for children with special needs. This is about why we got an IEP, and get a FREE printable binder cover.

If you missed me talking about my daughter’s diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder check that out here. When we got her diagnosis she already qualified for an IEP because she had a global developmental delay. The worst of her delays are her language delays which are receptive and expressive. This qualifier is called “speech or language impairment” one of 13 conditions that qualify a child for an IEP. 

This was determined after a 60 day period that the school has to evaluate the student for special needs. They will ask you and your child’s doctor for information on the suspected disability. If you feel they do not do an adequate job of evaluating your child you can also elect to get an outside evaluation and provide it to the school.

If your child doesn’t meet one of the 13 conditions, they might qualify for a 504 which is also for disabled students. The 504 is for students who have any disability that significantly affects life functions, severe allergies for example. An IEP is for more severe disabilities because they are in need of services, special education as well as a disability that majorly affects their functioning. An IEP is under the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA). This is what dictates how and why an IEP is written. The conditions are as follows.

13 Conditions

1.  Specific learning disability (SLD)
2. Other health impairment
3. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
4. Emotional disturbance
5. Speech or language impairment
6. Visual impairment, including blindness
7. Deafness
8. Hearing impairment
9. Deaf-blindness
10. Orthopedic impairment
11. Intellectual disability
12. Traumatic brain injury
13. Multiple disabilities

As you can see, when my daughter was diagnosed she now qualified for 2 different categories. Under autism and speech or language impairment. One needs to be primary, the IEP team decided on Autism being primary and speech or language impairment is secondary. 

The main goal for an IEP is to accommodate a child with special needs with the tools they need to succeed in school. In order to make sure that these tools are the correct and least restrictive the IEP is made up of measurable goals. As well as what services will be provided for the child during school. Changes in schedule, and other accommodations. For more information on the IEP itself visit the national council on special education.

All of this amounts to a lot of paperwork. I talked about this during the autism evaluation process. Unfortunately, it doesn’t get better, you just get buried under more paperwork when you go through the IEP process. In comes the tried and true binder.

The Binder!

In my binder, I have sections for Evaluations, Past IEP’s, Current IEP’s, and Misc. I literally have this in my car for when I need it. Going to other specialties, giving copies to my daughter’s after-school program.

It has all the paperwork I need to show people in one place. Sometimes my daughter’s occupational therapist will ask me what they are working on at OT in school. Outcomes my binder! It’s the only way I can keep organized in this process of being diagnosed with autism.

I have been complimented on the organization I have with my daughter’s information. I tell ya, it’s not because I am organized. It’s only because I have this binder.

Evaluations

My spot for evaluations is a convenient place to put ALL the evaluations you have, psych, OT, PT, speech, and school. These are the things that are most useful to other specialties when they are doing their initial assessments. It helps them see what other assessments providers have given. What the results were, it’s all in their language so it benefits them the greatest.

Past IEP’s

The IEP needs to have measurable goals. Included in the measurable goals is the time frame. Depending on your child’s individual needs your IEP team might meet; monthly, quarterly, or yearly. I speak with my daughters IEP team frequently whenever I find something else that might make my child’s day better at school. I also have daily reports that she brings home. 

Current IEP

Every member of the team gets a current copy of the IEP. This has the goals and services the child gets now, as well as special accommodations and interventions. This is sometimes built off of goals of past IEP’s. Which is why is it the previous category. Of course you can put your binder in whatever order you wish.

Misc.

I have a couple of things in the miscellaneous section of my binder. Currently, there are report cards and updates that I get from school. I also have lined paper. For times during the IEP meetings that I want to write something down and not forget.

I also use it if I am thinking about new ways to try to solve a problem and would like to discuss them with the team. Inevitably I will know what I want to talk to someone about but the moment I call it will leave me.

So that is how I stay organized in the world of special needs parenting. I hope that it helps you in the chaos of your daily needs for your child as well as for the dreaded IEP meetings. If you have a different experience or way to stay organized let me know in the comments below! I would love to hear from you.

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