IEP Tools at Your Fingertips
IEP Tools at your fingertips
There is no question that getting ready for an IEP meeting can be a stressful and intimidating experience. The amount of information that parents must absorb and be expected to understand about their child and their educational needs is staggering. Instead of being paralyzed by information overload, empower yourself by getting organized, learning about students’ rights under the law and utilizing data to your child’s advantage.
Here are some easy to use tools that you can access using your mobile device to help prepare for IEP meetings. Many of them are free and available for both Apple and Android devices. Transform your fear into confidence and make your next IEP meeting the best one yet!
ATEval2Go
by Smarty Ears
ATEval2Go is a revolutionary app useful for any professional responsible for putting technology into the hands of students. Authored by a seasoned Speech-Language Pathologist/Assistive Technology Specialist, this app is designed to help you document all observations and considerations essential to an assistive technology evaluation. Though designed for professionals, this is a fantastic tool for parents to understand the Assistive Technology evaluation process that can help them advocate for their child.
Price: $42.99
iOT Screener
by Covington Enterprises Unlimited
iOT Screener is a free app developed by Dr. Frederick B. Covington to assist parents and professionals in screening children who might have a developmental delay. The app does this by allowing a user to input general information about the child and themselves and answer a series of Yes/No questions. When the results are generated, you have the ability to email them. There is also a search tool that will help you find professionals like Speech Pathologist, Occupational Therapist, Physical Therapists, Pediatrician, and Psychiatrists in your area.
Price: FREE
Voice Recorder HD for Audio Recording, Playback, Trimming and Sharing
by eFUSION Co., Ltd.
This app is an excellent voice recorder with many outstanding features that can be used for a variety of purposes. The recorder itself is quite easy to use with very high quality sound. Features that we love and advantages that this app has over other similar voice recording apps is the ability to record for long periods of time and to be able to share/save the recordings outside of the app itself. Other uses we have found for this app have been recording information from medical appointments to remember later and recording IEP meetings for documentation purposes.
Price: $2.99
Common Core Standards
by MasteryConnect
With the adoption of Common Core Standards by many states, this app helps parents have access to the standards in an easy to read format. It can be invaluable in preparing for an IEP meeting or even
during an IEP meeting to understand grade level expectations. There is a section within the app that explains how the CCSS applies to students with disabilities. Topics covered include instructional supports for learning, accommodations, and Assistive Technology to ensure success.
Price: FREE
If you are interested in searching for more apps, creating your own list of apps and sharing them, please go to BridgingApps.org. BridgingApps, a program of Easter Seals Greater Houston, is a community of parents, therapists, doctors, and teachers who share information about using mobile devices (iPad, iPhone, and Android) with people who have special needs.
Cristen Reat is co-founder of BridgingApps and a mother who found success when using a mobile device with her children who have special needs.
© flickingerbrad via Flickr
Helpful Articles
More IEP
- How can parents prepare for an IEP Meeting? (Part 1)
- Whether it’s Your First IEP or You’re a Pro: 10 things to Cover at the Meeting
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This post originally appeared on our March/April 2014 Magazine
