The IEP may be developed immediately after the evaluation portion of the IEP Team meeting or may occur at a separate meeting. Throughout the process of developing the IEP, the EP Team considers the strengths of your child, your concerns about your child's needs, the results of the most recent evaluation, and whether certain factors will affect your child's ability to make progress. These special factors might include certain behavior considerations, language needs when English is not your native language, or your child's need for assistive technology services or devices. Other special concerns include the use of braille for a child who is visually impaired or the communication mode for a child who is deaf or hard of hearing. If your child is not eligible for early childhood special education, your family may be interested in participating in other early childhood services in your community.
Many communities offer programs with enriching social and language experiences for young children.
Other IEP Team members will share information about such programs in your community. The school district will appoint an IEP Team to determine your child's eligibility for special education and to develop an individualized educational program. Sometimes participants may play more than one role.