Student-led IEP
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A student-led IEP is an IEP meeting where the student leads part or all of the discussion about their strengths, needs, goals and supports.
Topic: Transition and adult life
In plain terms
Students can take on as much as they are ready for: introducing team members, sharing what is going well, describing accommodations, presenting progress data or proposing new goals. Even young students can take part with visuals or a short recorded video. Preparing for the meeting teaches self-knowledge and communication skills.
How it shows up in an IEP
The student is invited to any meeting where transition is discussed, and leading the meeting can be a goal itself. The team should plan preparation sessions so the student is ready, not put on the spot.
Example
A seventh grader uses a five-slide presentation to share strengths, two goals met, one goal to keep, and a request to keep audiobooks in science.
The rule
Federal reference: 34 CFR §300.321(b).
Related terms
- Self-advocacySelf-advocacy is the ability to understand one's own needs and rights, speak up for them, and ask for supports when needed.
- Self-determinationSelf-determination is a person's ability and opportunity to make choices, set goals and take action toward the life they want.
- IEP teamThe IEP team is the group of people, including the parents, who develop, review and revise a student's IEP together.
- Age of majorityThe age of majority is the age, set by state law and usually 18, at which a person is legally treated as an adult who makes their own decisions.
On IEP Atlas
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