Answer
No. A parent does not have a right to exclude a team member from an IEP meetings.
You should not make demands. If you make demands, you set the stage for a battle you cannot win. Other members of the team will have less respect for you and your concerns.
When you request services for your child, you need to keep relations businesslike and unemotional. This may require a large helping of self-discipline.
One of your goals is to share your concerns and persuade the team to act on these concerns. If you demand, you will not accomplish this goal.
IEP team members tend to play different roles - the pitbull and bully, the know it all, the conflict-avoider, wet blankets, snipers, etc. We discuss “dealing with difficult people” in our book Wrightslaw: From Emotions to Advocacy. These dynamics play out in most organizations.
If you have trouble controlling your emotions, consider getting help from an educational advocate or advice from an attorney who specializes in this area of law. |
