I think before you go to the meetings, make a list of specifics about your child. The more information they know, the more services they can provide you with as well as less time trying to figure it out on their own time. Be sure to include things like movement differences, sensory differences( sensitivity to hearing, touch, smell, sight or taste), certain sounds that set him off etc., communication differences ( echoing, rules of converstation), behavioral differences. socialization and interaction differences, learning differences (capable of understanding a given task), and interests or fascinations. Be sure that as your child grows and these things change to relay that to the teachers. Keep a daily log with his teachers, this may be a note book or in the form of an email. The more communication you have with the school and his teachers, the better success rate of your child. This will create consistency within your environment as well as his and this is positive. Never be afraid to tell them he is having a bad day or he didn't sleep; this all will effect how he acts at school and interacts with adults. Good luck and keep me posted.

Don't be afraid to ask for changes in the goals or suggest some additional goals. Remember, you have the right not to sign the IEP until you are happy with it. You do not have to sign the IEP before your child starts school.

The district will refer to their offer as FAPE, Free and Appropriate Education. Your idea of FAPE and their idea of FAPE may differ. If you feel that that your child needs more than the district offers, hold out on signing the IEP and ask for more.

Please check out the Wrightslaw website. I'm not an expert, just a parent. Feel free to private message me if you like! Good luck!

I think the most important thing is that YOU feel comfortable with the people who will be working with your son and that you get a sense that the school and board are committed to educating your son (as opposed to just "sitting" him). The program will usually be derived based on meeting the goals you set in conjunction with this group of individuals, so it is really important for your son that you can develop a friendly, respectful (both ways) and productive relationship with them. My son graduated high school a few years ago. We had our ups and downs to be sure, but we (i.e. the school representatives and myself) were generally able to work things out without much animosity developing and I thank them every day for the progress they made with him over the years.