Understand the process. Participate with confidence.
Your child was referred for an evaluation, or your first IEP meeting is on the calendar. The IEP Journey walks you through each stage in plain language, with checklists, worksheets and fictional sample documents you can study at your own pace.
One path, in the order you'll live it
The First IEP Journey follows the real sequence of the special education process, so you always know where you are and what comes next.
Start Here
What special education and an IEP are, who's on the team, and the full process map.
The Evaluation
Referrals, consent, types of assessments and how to read an evaluation report.
Eligibility
The IDEA disability categories and how the team makes an eligibility decision.
Understanding the IEP
Present levels, goals, accommodations, services and placement, section by section.
The IEP Meeting
How to prepare, what to ask, and how to share a different view respectfully.
After the Meeting
Implementation, progress reports, annual reviews and reevaluations.
What you'll get
- Short, self-paced lessons in plain language
- Printable checklists and worksheets for every stage
- A fictional evaluation report and a fictional IEP, annotated line by line
- Clear labels for what's federal (IDEA) and what varies by state
- Links to your state's official special education resources
What this is not
- Legal advice or advocacy for your child's case
- A promise about eligibility, services or outcomes
- A replacement for your state's Parent Training and Information Center, an advocate or an attorney
- A place to upload your child's real records
Start with the free guide
"Your Child Was Referred for an IEP Evaluation. Now What?" explains what a referral means, what consent means, which documents you may receive and the questions you can ask.