What is the "right way" to handle a parent who misses/is way late to IEP meetings?

[EmilyM]

I want to hear this from the advocacy and legal side of the matter. I'm just a teacher. One of my students has a parent who is autistic himself and is affected to the point he can't work, so this puts me in the position of wanting to help extra (not to be patronizing, just saying, I get it, guy probably needs all the reminders he can get). 

Anyway, he almost always is significantly late to IEP meetings if doesn't forget them altogether. To top it off, this is an online school. We send reminders on all forms. We call and text before the meeting and when it is starting. It doesn't always help.

The meeting this week, we closed out the Zoom room after so long. About 15 minutes later, Dad texts me to let me know he was ready to enter the room. I let the rest of the team know, but we were all in the same position: we had moved on to other things on our schedules and no one was available and we'd have to reschedule. Dad was understanding but I think also frustrated, which is understandable.

Did we do wrong? Does the law say anything about being late for meetings and ways to accommodate that? Should we be booking longer timeslots to accommodate Dad forgetting about the meeting until late into it? Any other clever hacks for reminders?

[Carolyn Rowlett]

First, let me preface that this is not legal advise, as we do not give legal advise on this site.

The IDEA does not say anything specific about being late to meetings (to my knowledge), but it does speak to parents not making themselves available for or replying to attempts to schedule meetings.  At some point the school has to move on and just make sure all attempts to schedule the meeting have been sufficient and documented.  I would say being significantly late to meetings would fall under this provision.

However, the ADA might apply here requiring accommodations for dad's disability.  But it sounds like you are doing everything you can.  Can you talk to the dad about this issue?  Ask him what the best way to get him there on time would be?  Ask if he has someone who can assist him?  If he is not working, he might be getting assistance from a government agency - not just financial, but also daily living.  Could they help?  Do they make sure he gets to doctors' or other appointments on time?  Who is making sure the student gets to appointments on time, because it sounds like he wouldn't be able to.  Can that person/aide help?  I personally think booking longer timeslots would be an unnecessary burden on the school.

[EmilyM]

2 hours ago, Carolyn Rowlett said:

First, let me preface that this is not legal advise, as we do not give legal advise on this site.

The IDEA does not say anything specific about being late to meetings (to my knowledge), but it does speak to parents not making themselves available for or replying to attempts to schedule meetings.  At some point the school has to move on and just make sure all attempts to schedule the meeting have been sufficient and documented.  I would say being significantly late to meetings would fall under this provision.

However, the ADA might apply here requiring accommodations for dad's disability.  But it sounds like you are doing everything you can.  Can you talk to the dad about this issue?  Ask him what the best way to get him there on time would be?  Ask if he has someone who can assist him?  If he is not working, he might be getting assistance from a government agency - not just financial, but also daily living.  Could they help?  Do they make sure he gets to doctors' or other appointments on time?  Who is making sure the student gets to appointments on time, because it sounds like he wouldn't be able to.  Can that person/aide help?  I personally think booking longer timeslots would be an unnecessary burden on the school.

He's said texting is the best way, but admits he doesn't always check. I'll see if he does have help.

[JSD24]

Accommodations for a parent's disability can & should be made by the school.  They might need to be called or texted starting an hour before the meeting to verify they are aware of the meeting starting soon.  They might need a 2nd reminder 5-10 minutes before the meeting starts.  It's possible they need 'parent training' on how to set alarms on their phone.

IDEA is big on parent participation so between that & ADA, the school should be doing 'reasonable accommodations'.  What's 'reasonable' might be subject to debate.  (There seems to be a big shortage of people for hire who help disabled individuals.  IMO, the school should be proactive on this & not rely on someone else helping this dad with this task.)