IEPs by disability.
What changes, and what doesn't.
IDEA applies to every eligible child, but the strategy inside an IEP meeting shifts depending on your child's disability. These guides focus on what's specific: what evaluators look for, what goals should look like, what schools tend to underwrite, and what a BCBA advocate knows to push on.
A note on how these guides work: Each page focuses on one disability category and covers eligibility criteria, what a strong IEP looks like for that profile, common gaps Meghan sees in school-written IEPs, and what parents often miss. They're written for families who are already in the process, not for parents looking for a general overview.
IEP for Autism Spectrum Disorder
Eligibility, goal structures, behavior supports, and what BCBA expertise adds to autism IEP advocacy.
High-Functioning AutismIEP for High-Functioning Autism
Why "high-functioning" labels lead to underwritten IEPs, and what to watch for.
ADHDIEP for ADHD
When ADHD qualifies under OHI or SED, what accommodations actually work, and how to make the case.
ADHDGetting an IEP for Your Child with ADHD
The parent's step-by-step path from evaluation request to IEP approval for ADHD.
ADHDIEP Advocacy for ADHD: What Parents Miss
Common ways schools underserve kids with ADHD and how to push back effectively.
2eIEP for Twice-Exceptional (2e) Students
When giftedness and a learning disability co-exist, schools often miss both. What to do instead.
IEP for Dyslexia
Reading goals, evidence-based interventions, and why dyslexia IEPs get watered down more than most.
Dyslexia / NCDyslexia and IEPs in North Carolina
NC-specific rules, the Dyslexia Policy, and what Charlotte-area families need to know.
DyscalculiaIEP for Dyscalculia
Math-specific learning disabilities and the goals and supports schools should provide.
LDIEP for Learning Disabilities
How specific learning disabilities get evaluated and what strong IEP services look like.
SPDIEP for Sensory Processing Disorder
SPD is not a standalone IDEA category, but it affects eligibility in other areas. Here's how.
IEP for Speech-Language Impairment
The most common IDEA eligibility category, and why the goals still often fall short.
Speech TherapyHow to Get Speech Therapy Written into the IEP
What the evaluation data needs to show and how to argue for frequency and minutes.
Speech DelaySpeech Delay and IEP Services
How speech delays get evaluated, what qualifies, and what schools often miss in early intervention.
NonverbalIEP for a Nonverbal Child
AAC, communication goals, and how to build an IEP when your child doesn't use spoken language.
Selective MutismIEP for Selective Mutism
A misunderstood and underserved condition, and what IEP supports actually help.
IEP for Anxiety
When anxiety qualifies under IDEA, what documentation is needed, and what services to request.
AnxietySchool Accommodations for Anxiety
The specific accommodations that help children with anxiety access learning without triggering it.
EBDIEP for Emotional Behavioral Disorder
The SED/EBD eligibility category, what BIPs should include, and common advocacy missteps.
IEP for Cerebral Palsy
OT, PT, and related services, placement options, and assistive technology considerations.
Down SyndromeIEP for Down Syndrome
Intellectual disability eligibility, LRE, and writing goals that reflect your child's actual strengths.
Hearing ImpairmentIEP for Hearing Impairment
DHH eligibility, communication considerations, and specialized services schools must provide.
Visual ImpairmentIEP for Visual Impairment
TVI services, orientation and mobility, and what an IEP for a visually impaired student requires.
Intellectual DisabilityIEP for Intellectual Disability
ID eligibility, functional goals, transition planning, and placement considerations.
TBIIEP for Traumatic Brain Injury
TBI is a standalone IDEA category with specific eligibility and service requirements.
Tourette SyndromeIEP for Tourette Syndrome
When tics and co-occurring conditions qualify under OHI or SED, and what supports help.
Not sure which category fits your child?
Meghan can review your child's existing evaluations and tell you exactly what category applies, what services are warranted, and where the school's IEP falls short.
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