It never ceases to amaze me how anxious I become as a parent as I prepare for these meetings. As parents we are fully prepared to fight for the rights of our children, (My mama bear side seems to rear its head as I prepare to fight for my young cub). I suppose this is just a natural way for us to feel, but at times we find ourselves wishing that this process could be so much easier.

What if we went in as a team, understanding that each individual will be heard?  

What if each person of the team felt that their contributions and thoughts were respected and valued? 

What if we left that meeting with a consensus on a "move forward" plan?  

What if there was follow-through and consistency amongst all team members? 

In all honesty, this is how it should go. These "what ifs" are completely obtainable if parents, along with the school team, come prepared and ready to focus on the needs of the child.

So how do we as parents prepare ourselves? 

1. Dig into the process a little bit more 

Understand what rights you have as a parent, and what is expected from the school pertaining to your child's rights.  

Seek individuals who have an understanding of the process and who are there for you! (That's US!)  

North Dakota Secondary Transition Project (NDSTP) is a transitional information and training project. The purpose of NDSTP is to provide resouorces and training to youth/young adults with disabilities and their families to help them understand the transition process and potential possibilities of life after high school. Overall the project provides resources, training, and support & guidance towards; workforce entry or post-secondary opportunities, how to plan for positive futures, and how to access supports and services after leaving school.

The project will be piloting this fall. Special Education Units, along with Regional Education Associations (REAs), will be receiving a letter in the mail in the upcoming weeks. For more information, reach out to youth@pathfinder-nd.org.