Negotiation Skills For Parents: Negotiation Tips

• You don't have to negotiate on your own. Advocacy groups like the Ohio Legal Rights Service can help you.
• Try to give your school officials the chance to resolve problems at the lowest level possible.
• Keep notes of every communication you have with the school: date and time, with whom you talked, and what was said.
• Know which services the school must provide by law, and services the school does not have to provide.
• Remain calm during meetings. Take a break before your emotions get the best of you and hurt your child's cause.
• When presenting a new idea, support your team with examples where your idea has been tried in practice and has succeeded.
• If you need an expert to support you, try to choose a person the IEP team knows and respects.
• If you disagree with the school's views of your child, ask for documentation or an independent evaluator.
• Ask the right person at the right time for supports your child and teacher need for a successful IEP.
• Be aware of the gap between the school's core beliefs and your own, and ways to bridge the gap.
• If the school has a lawyer present at a meeting, you should too. Contact the Ohio Legal Rights Service for referrals or representation.