Sort the papers
Ilonka helps you go through the current IEP, reports, and evaluations, and pull out what matters for this meeting.
Help topic · School
IEP meeting help for parents
An IEP meeting can feel like a test you did not study for. Ilonka helps you prepare: papers in order, concerns in plain words, and questions ready, so you can speak for your child with confidence.
The meeting itself
You know your child best. Preparation makes sure the room hears it.
IEP meetings move fast, use their own language, and cover a year of your child's life in an hour. Most parents leave thinking of the thing they meant to say. A little structure before the meeting changes that.
IEP meeting checklist
0 of 14 ready
Before the meeting
During the meeting
After the meeting
How coaching helps
Three things we do before your meeting.
Find your words
Your concerns, written in plain language you can say out loud in the room, including the strengths you want on record.
Rehearse the hard parts
The question you are nervous to ask, the disagreement you expect, the request that matters most. Practiced once, they are easier in the room.
Experience from the other side of the table
Ilonka builds IEPs and behaviour plans in her own classroom at Rogers High School and has worked in school teams in Arkansas, London, and South Africa for more than 20 years. She knows how these meetings run and what teams respond to. Coaching is preparation and support. It is not legal advice.
Questions
Before you start
Is coaching the same as hiring an advocate?
No. Coaching prepares you to speak for your child with confidence: your papers in order, your concerns in plain words, your questions ready. It is not legal advocacy, and Ilonka will say plainly if a question belongs with an advocate or a lawyer.
How far ahead of the meeting should we start?
One to two weeks is ideal. That leaves time to review the current IEP, gather reports, and write your concerns without a last minute rush. If your meeting is sooner, start anyway. Some preparation is far better than none.
Can Ilonka help after the meeting too?
Yes. A follow-up session can go through what was decided, what it means day to day, and what to watch before the next review, so the plan does not sit in a drawer.
Initial assessment: $75 for one hour
Follow-ups: $50 for 40 minutes
Extra time: $10 per additional 10 minutes
See full feesStart with Ilonka
Walk into the next meeting prepared.
Email Ilonka to request the $75 initial assessment or ask whether coaching is the right fit.