Therapists, IEPs, and 504s: Ethics & Equity

Therapists who work with children and teens often encounter clients who have Individualized Education Plans (IEPs); therapists who work with parents often hear questions and concerns from parents about these documents. These documents are often mysterious and confusing, but impact greatly the emotional and social experience of children and teens who have them. This presentation will illuminate several important aspects of IEPs for therapists, including: the difference between an IEP and 504 plan; attending, or not, the IEP meeting; the role of psychiatric or developmental diagnosis in IEPs; how to ethically advocate for clients; and the emotional impact of IEPs on client family systems.

Therapists will learn the following:

1. Understand and identify 2 differences between an IEP and 504 plan

2. Evaluate 2 ethical concerns related to a therapist’s participation in an IEP

3. Comprehend how caregivers may be emotionally impacted by an IEP and identify two ways to…