Many parents feel intimidated when talking with special education professionals. There is much in our society which encourages us to look at professionals and to accept what they say without question. However, that does not mean you should be intimidated. The discussion is about your child and you know your child better than anyone, giving you the…

The transdisciplinary approach to the education of handicapped preschool children involves frequent meetings between team members and parents. The meetings address the areas of assessment, diagnosis and goal setting, planning and program implementation, and evaluation of both the program and the child. (PHR)

Informing parents that their child may be handicapped is a delicate task. This article accordingly provides advice for professionals in holding a conference with parents to help them adjust to the painful realization that their child is handicapped. (TE)

The booklet offers guidelines to help the educator in making meetings with parents more relaxed and productive, particularly in meeting the needs of special education students. Listed in an introduction are recommendations for productive parent-professional interactions, including that parents should be fully participating members of the team,…

The Individual Behavior Management System can serve as a tool for special education personnel in working with parents whose children experience behavior problems. The needs of students, the necessity of family involvement, and the importance of communication among family members and school personnel provide the theoretical basis for the system.…

The article presents a case in which parents sought advice about school placement for their 6-year-old daughter who had been having difficulty learning in the first grade. Quotes from each parent present their perceptions of the individualized education program (IEP) meeting. (SBH)

Suggestions are given to teachers of handicapped students concerning developing helpful relationships with parents. Topics covered include what parents want to know, preparing for a teacher-parent conference, selecting a place, making arrangements for the conference, obtaining further information, communicating with parents, and working with…

Suggestions are offered for educating teachers to plan, conduct, terminate, and follow-up conferences with parents of handicapped children. (CL)

The authors share their ideas on how parental assertiveness can help parents in educational planning for children with disabilities. (SB)

The author discusses problems associated with parent/educator conferences on the yearly plan for educational services for an exceptional child and provides five guidelines, including facilitation of parent's verbal participation. (MC)

Teachers of minority handicapped children can enhance their relationship with parents by understanding that parents cannot be forced to participate and that the teacher cannot expect to have the same authority with parents as with children. It is important for teachers to begin parent training programs with high success activities, focus on…

One of a series of monographs on specific topics in the transition of students with disabilities, this publication focuses on student-focused conferencing and planning. An introductory chapter defines terms, considers who can use student-focused conferencing and planning, summarizes relevant research, and identifies essential ingredients and…

Individualized Education Program meetings can improve the parent-professional partnership by careful consideration of such factors as meeting location, comfortable waiting areas, group process clarification, opportunities for parent input, telephone follow-up, and development of support groups. (CL)

This single-sheet eight panel brochure provides guidelines for parents on effective participation in meetings with school personnel to discuss their child's individualized education program (IEP). Included are an explanation of what the IEP contains; the settings in which it can be implemented; the non-academic, extracurricular, and supportive…

The article offers activities and strategies that can be used prior to, during, and after the individualized education program conference to improve communication between the special educator and the parents of handicapped children. (CL)