IEP pros and cons
As an instructor who deals with students with disabilities and a mother of a child with Asperger's syndrome I find the IEP's to be a negative and more focus should be on a positive note.
Again teaching medical students who have to sit for a major certification exam at the end of their courses I feel that bending my teaching styles to accommodate them only sets them up for failure in the end. They may get through the classes because accommodation were made to help them succeed, however there are no accommodations made during the national certification. No one is going to read them the test questions, no extra time is given and when they get out in the real world no one is going to be there to hold their hand and guide them through life.
IEPs must serve as support to the student's learning and must be reevaluated for progress feedback. Ideally, the school administration must be transparent and consistent with implementation of IEPs to realistically guide the students to their choice of career.
IEP's are to focus on areas of concern but if written well are a guide for a student with barriers to meet goals and expectations. When I attend IEP meetings often the teachers want to go around the room and offer something positive before getting to the areas where improvement is needed and I prefer to just get to the barriers and how to reduce them. I know all of the positive attributes my child has.
I agree with the issue of added time. I teach in graphic design and have yet to find a client willing to push back a deadline when he or she can find another designer who can complete the task in a more cost effective timetable. I find the additional time accommodation is not effective if our goal is to employ them in the field.
