The IEP Advocacy Toolkit

"God didn't call you to walk into that room alone. He called you to fight for your child — and He is fighting right alongside you." Your work here saves automatically.

Before the Meeting

Fill this out in the days before your meeting. Bring it with you — having it on paper (or your phone) means you won't blank when the room gets overwhelming.

Meeting date

Who will be there

What I most want to walk out with

How my child communicates right now Sounds, gestures, behaviors, device use, sign, eye gaze, pointing, leading by the hand — anything counts.

What's working at home

What I'm most worried about

Specific asks for this meeting Be concrete — e.g. "AAC evaluation," "increased speech therapy minutes," "communication device trial."

Meeting Agenda

Bring this checklist so you help steer the conversation instead of just reacting to it.

In the Meeting

You don't have to come up with the words in the moment. Use these — word for word if you need to.

AAC Options Comparison

Know what to ask for. Your child doesn't have to "prove" themselves on low-tech before high-tech is considered.

Type	Examples	Good to know
Low-tech	Picture cards, PECS, communication boards	No batteries, low cost, easy to start immediately — vocabulary limited to what's printed
Mid-tech	Single-message buttons, recorded choice boards	Voice output for a small set of phrases — a good bridge while a fuller system is evaluated
High-tech	Speech-generating devices, tablet AAC apps	Largest vocabulary, room to grow — needs training and usually an AT/AAC evaluation

Goal-Tracking Log

Track progress between meetings so you walk into the next one with real data, not just a feeling.

Date	Goal / Skill Observed	Progress	Notes

Post-Meeting Action Checklist

The two weeks after a meeting matter just as much as the meeting itself.

Red Flags Checklist

If you notice any of these, it's worth pausing and pushing back.

Calendar & Reminders

Enter your meeting date and get ready-made reminders — add them straight to Google Calendar or download for Apple/Outlook.

IEP meeting date

Funding & Resources

Services don't have to come only through the school. A few other doors worth knocking on.

United States

Medicaid (EPSDT) can fund AAC devices outside of school in many states
Private insurance can sometimes be appealed for a speech-generating device — ask your SLP for a letter of medical necessity
Every state has a federally funded Assistive Technology Act Program, often with a device loan library
Every state has a free Parent Training and Information Center (PTI) — search "Parent Center Hub"
Local Autism Society chapters often maintain their own funding and grant lists

Canada

Autism Canada maintains a Provincial & Territorial Funding Guide
Provincial autism funding programs (e.g. Ontario Autism Program, B.C. Autism Funding) can often be used toward devices and private services
Ontario families: ask your SLP about an Assistive Devices Program (ADP) application through OHIP
Federal Disability Tax Credit (Form T2201) and Child Disability Benefit can offer financial support
Provincial autism societies (e.g. Autism Ontario) and self-advocacy groups (e.g. A4A Ontario) offer advocacy support

This is not legal advice — programs and eligibility change over time. Confirm current details directly with each program.