# @theconnectedparentsite on Instagram

- **Type:** Video
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DQpGz3TERX0
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/61883947-theconnectedparentsite-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/e9b42a242f.jpg
- **Posted:** 2025-11-04T17:05:32.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Julie Walters | The Connected Parent (@theconnectedparentsite) — https://gondola.cc/theconnectedparentsite

## Caption

The important stuff ⤵️
(The last one is key...)

✨ Document everything. If it’s not in writing, it didn’t happen. Every promise, every update, every “we’ll get back to you”: put it in an email. You’re not being difficult; you’re protecting your child’s rights.

✨  Know your rights before you’re sitting at the table. Don’t rely on the team to tell you what’s possible. Learn the basics of IDEA and state special ed law. Confidence comes from knowing where the limits actually are.

✨ Bring allies. IEP meetings are easier when you’re not alone. Bring your partner, a friend, or an advocate who can take notes, remind you of what was said, or just sit beside you when the room gets tense.

✨ Focus on solutions, not approval. You’re not there to be liked. You’re there to make sure your child gets what they need to learn and thrive. Stay calm, stay factual, and bring data or documentation to back you up.

✨ Take care of yourself, but let’s be real. There’s no “bubble bath” version of self-care here. It might just mean stepping outside the meeting to breathe, eating something before you go, or taking the rest of the day off work if you can.

✨ Build trust early and guard it fiercely. Once trust is gone, it’s gone. Be clear, follow up in writing, and keep communication professional. A respectful tone builds credibility.

It’s completely normal to feel unheard or outnumbered in IEP meetings.

Sometimes it feels like you’re the only one fighting for what seems obvious.

But remember: You’re an equal member of the IEP team, and YOU are the expert on your child.

Even when it feels tense, your voice matters.
And your advocacy is changing your child’s future, one meeting at a time. 💙

#disabilitymom #disability #specialneeds #parentingrare #autism #autismmom #disabilityparent #raremom #medicalmom #neurodivergent #neurodiversityaffirming #raredisease #autismresources #disabilityresources #rarediseaseresources #IEP #IEPs

## Stats

- **Views:** 978
- **Likes:** 31
- **Shares:** 0
- **Comments:** 0

## Tags

ieps, autism, disability, rarediseaseresources, disabilityparent, raremom, neurodiversityaffirming, raredisease, autismmom, disabilitymom, disabilityresources, autismresources, iep, neurodivergent, specialneeds, medicalmom, parentingrare

---
Copyright (c) Gondola