The Lighter Side of IEPs.

This booklet offers a humorous perspective on important guidelines for developing Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) for students with disabilities which respect the values of collaboration, student and family leadership, and full inclusion. Humorous section titles and cartoons illustrate important principles: "Developing an IEP Shouldn't Be Like Planning Someone Else's Vacation," which addresses the necessity for student involvement in the IEP process; "Writing an IEP Shouldn't Be Like Five Decorators Furnishing Your Living Room," which emphasizes that IEP team members need to communicate and work together toward a common goal; "Reading IEP Goals Shouldn't Be Like Reading the Manual for Programming Your VCR," which points out that IEPs should be free of jargon, use easily understandable language, and not be too long; "IEP Meetings Shouldn't Be Like Large Family Reunions," which contends that the group should not be too large and all participants should know the student and each other; "Completed IEPs Shouldn't Be Like Exercise Equipment," which stresses that IEPs should be used; and "And Now Presenting the Perfect IEP...," which states that there is no perfect IEP. (DB)