By Amy Jung
Organization for Autism Research
I still remember the day before my son’s first Individualized Education Program (IEP) meeting. I was so nervous that I wrote down everything I wanted to say about my child in a notebook. Thankfully, the IEP team was enormously supportive, and he was placed in a well-fitted classroom, where he learned and played a lot.
Yet my IEP meeting experience also sparked my intellectual curiosity. I wanted to know what rights my child had in the IEP process and the extent to which the school would be responsible for any incidents or emergencies. I was thirsting for comprehensive understanding and knowledge of the IEP because I knew that I was responsible for making decisions on behalf of my son’s best interests. I soon realized how my role would be vital in his development and learning process.
