“It’s My Meeting!”: Involving High School Students With Significant Disabilities in the Individualized Education Program Process

The Individuals With Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA; 2004) requires that special education teachers include transition in student IEPs in preparation for adulthood. The law also requires that, at a minimum, educators invite students with disabilities to attend their IEP meetings starting no later than age 16. Student involvement in the IEP process (i.e., contributing to the development of the IEP, planning and participating in the IEP meeting) is an essential component of effective transition planning (Kohler et al., 2016). Student involvement is also found to facilitate self-determination, communication skills, decision making, and goal development (Arndt et al., 2006; Papay & Bambara, 2014).