Students’ participation in Italian IEP meetings?
Marco Andreoli
Italian Decree n. 96/2019, targeting the promotion of self-determination among high school students with disabilities, requires they participate in Individualized Education Program Meetings (IEP meetings) from school year 2021-2022, to contribute to their Individualized Education Plans (IEPs). This literature review aims at providing guidance on practical issues that arise from this important change, by looking at the body of research published so far. Students’ involvement in IEP meetings fosters the acquisition of important gains in communication, social and self-determination skills. Moreover, it enhances learning processes, increases self-determination and improves life quality even after school years. However, to attain these results, students should not simply attend IEP meetings, yet it’s salient that school staff seek to engage students in meaningful participation. Most importantly, students should receive an adequate preparation for partaking in and then gradually getting more involved in IEP development and implementation. School principals, families and staff attending IEP meetings should give students support. Facilitators are pivotal to make communication possible, especially for students with communication and relational difficulties. Finally, it is recommended that students’ involvement in IEP meetings starts in middle school, whereas in primary school educational interventions to build self-determination skills are also possible.
Keywords
Student participation, IEP meetings, Student-led IEP, Student voice, Self-determination.
