IEP meetings are the keystone of the IDEA. They form the foundation for a student’s education but can also be a source of frustration, missed communication, and tense relationships between district staff and parents of students with disabilities. This session will provide suggestions for successfully navigating the often-fraught waters of facilitating IEP meetings with an eye toward ensuring legal compliance. Attorney Elizabeth Polay has represented both parents and districts over the course of her legal career and will share valuable insights from advocating and participating in IEP meetings from both perspectives. Joining her will be Emma Christopherson, who represented the Department of Education in Hawaii on special education matters. Together, Elizabeth and Emma will cover best practices for preparing for an IEP meeting, communicating and working with difficult parties, legal compliance within the IEP document, Oregon-specific requirements like abbreviated day programs, and much more.

Speakers:

• Elizabeth Polay, Shareholder, Garrett Hemann Robertson P.C.
• Emma Christopherson, Attorney at Law, Garrett Hemann Robertson P.C.