© 2005 Brenda RogersIEP Game Patent Pending #9014

What is the IEP Game? Training system Middle Level Language Self-Advocacy Tool –designed to bridge gaps between professional special educators, the family and the legal system Based on five essential elements of Independent Education Plans: –Deficits –Evidence –Experts –Needs –Rights

Deficits –A range of types listed as headlines on each card. Underneath the deficit type headline, different impacts caused by the deficit are listed Evidence –Evidence is observable events and documentary material that tend to prove or disprove a fact. Cards list types of evidence. Experts –An expert is someone recognized as a reliable source of knowledge about the student. This is a ranking category. Needs –The needs category represents what the student needs as a result of deficits. Needs can also be thought of as solutions to problems. Rights –Summarize the law regarding topics covered by Deficit and Needs cards.

Essential Elements of the IEP Fixed number of easily understandable categories applicable to differing circumstances IEP Game Cards are loosely coupled IEP Game system incorporates parents into IEP meetings as objective participants rather than subjective family members IEP Game provides school specialists with a jargon free middle ground vocabulary accessible across disciplines

How We Play: Small Group Participants IEP Game Facilitator Sample Case IEP Game Cards Reference Guide Fill-In Form Create Parent Concerns Letter

The Research Basis of the IEP Game

IEP Format Contradictions Equal Participants and Separate Sectors –Public Institution (School) Professionals and Experts –Private Institution (Family) Subjective Relationships IEP Meeting –Equal status decision makers on a committee Cultural Contradictions –Professional Status –Family as a Sacred Domain

Cultural Contradiction: Professional Status & Family as a Sacred Domain School is a public institution –School is a secondary group –School is constructed on rules and procedures Family is a private institution –Family is a primary group –Family is constructed on relationships, emotional ties, and loyalties Schools and Families are not equal in status or power

Families and schools Have similar concerns for different reasons –Administrators want adequate yearly performance –Teachers want students to learn –Parents want children to have a future –Parents want hope –Parents want relief at home Speak different languages –Rules versus Relationships Schools: Specialist jargon Family: Common Sense and Personal Duty

Parent Participation in IEP meetings Research Shows Parents: Are “Passive Participants” Do not understand what IEP team members are talking about Feel: – like they are not experts –Confused by the whole process –Intimidated by professionals –Frustrated because their child is failing and “no one listens” –Angry when they find out…. –Mistrust

In Addition: Social Psychological Barriers to Parent Participation Group Conformity Conformity to Authority Group Think

Conformity is the act of maintaining a certain degree of similarity (in clothing, manners, etc.) to those in your general social circles or to those in authority. Usually, conformity implies a tendency to submit to others in thought and behavior other than simply clothing choice.

Group Conformity: The Desire to be Liked vs. The Desire to be Right How likely are you to agree with what you know to be wrong to stay in the good graces of the group? Research Says Very Likely!

Conformity How likely are you to conform to authority, even if you disagree? Research Says Very Likely!

Committee Structure? Are teachers and other school specialists in the same boat as parents? Yes. Janis Research: Group Think and Objectivity

Conflict in Special Education Most conflicts caused by “…provision of ancillary services such as physical, speech, or occupational therapy” created conflicts in special education (Marian C. Fish. (1990) Family School Conflict: Implications fro the Family. Reading, Writing, and Learning Disabilities, 6: ) Another study cites threats to resources and values as creating conflict. Issues that lead to due process hearings include placement disagreements, services, identification, eligibility, appropriateness, procedural issues, and related services. (Lake, J. and B. Billingsley (2000). "An Analysis of Factors that Contribute to Parent-School Conflict in Special Education." Remedial and Special Education 21(2): )

Improving Parent Participation Leveling the language field –Five easy categories –Interactive training using these categories –Using the categories at home with a real case Side stepping social psychology –Putting the attention on manipulating categories –Providing a method for easily documenting parent concerns at home before the meeting Measures of accountability –Documentation as a record of parent concerns Make law a process not a weapon –Using Deficits, Evidence and Needs with Rights makes the law a process through documentation and case building using a rational-legal method

From Subjective Family Members to Parent Experts If professional knowledge is validated by research based assessment tools, then a research based method for incorporating parent concerns into IEP meetings would boost the credibility of parent participation. Creating an accessible method for parents to write their own reports transforms parent knowledge from subjective- anecdotal to objective-rational and provides the vehicle for appropriately positioning family members within the institutional rule based system.

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