Independent Needs Assessment includes a comprehensive and critical diagnostic assessment of your child’s school records.  The Independent Needs Assessment Protocol (INAP) identifies…

• the factors that could make the IEP or 504 plan appropriate for your child.
• potential challenges you and your child can face with a poorly written IEP or 504 plan.
• potential challenges you and your child can face when the school is not complying with the IEP or 504 plan. 
• areas of effective parent advocacy that you should be aware of.
• the school’s position regarding your child’s education and your child’s placement.
• areas of collaboration and negotiation with the IEP or 504 plan team.
• how to use compliance tracking for the IEP, 504, Transition, and/or behavior plan.

 The Independent Needs Assessment Protocol…

• assists you in determining how and if your child is receiving a free appropriate education.
• helps you to understand the judicious exercise of your due process rights.
• assists you in making your “case in point” so that your child can receive appropriate services and make progress from grade to grade.
• will consider if your child’s unique needs have been assessed and are being met through the IEP or 504 plan.

The school would not consider providing S's child with an IEP or a 504 plan.  They were not convinced that S's child needed any type of specialized instruction or related services.  After working with Claudia, S attended the next meeting on her own and her child was found eligible and an IEP was written.  INAP works!!!

T's child was struggling with a watered-down curriculum and had no hope of making any progress.  The child's behavior was changing and the team stated the child had to work harder.  T sent her records to Claudia for an Individual Needs Assessment and they attended the next IEP meeting together.  The school agreed to an IEE and discovered the child had Aspergers.  Now we're on track for an appropriate IEP to meet the child's needs.  INAP works!!!

L was convinced that the IEP team was just not listening to her.  None of the advocacy strategies she had learned seemed to be effective.  Claudia taught L the advanced strategies and skills she needed to be an effective parent advocate.  L attended the next IEP on her own.  The school was listening to her now.  INAP works!!!

M's child was on a 504 plan.  The case manager had convinced M that it was too difficult to get the teachers to provide the accommodations written in the 504 plan.  M needed leverage.  Claudia attended the next 504 meeting with M.  M quickly had the support of the case manager in bringing the teachers in compliance with the 504 plan.  INAP works!!!

M's child had an IEP and had been in the same math book for the past three years and the school wasn't too interested in helping the child reach grade level.  M worked with Claudia and they attended the next IEP meeting together.  The IEP team decided M's child should be in an appropriate grade level math book.  INAP works!!!

C's child received compensatory education and a settlement without filing a complaint, going to mediation, or filing for a fair hearing.  INAP does work!!!

IDEA 2004 has changed the process, content, and goals for developing an appropriate IEP.  Schools have adopted harsher criteria for serving your child with a 504 plan.  You deserve to be an informed participant in either process.

Before you consider hiring an attorney or lay advocate consider the cost effective services and benefit of hiring a Special Educational Needs Consultant (SENC).  Many clients have found this process of such value that they have been able to successfully advocate and participate at IEP and 504 plan meetings without additional support or cost.

Ignorance (lack of accurate information) creates problems.  Knowledge solves problems.