ABSTRACT
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEIA) guarantees a free and appropriate public education to children with disabilities, access to the least restrictive environment, as well as specifying the need to engage in collaborative planning and practice. The two frameworks of cultural reciprocity and person-centered planning provide promising guidelines to create more affirmative and productive collaborative planning. Building relationships and working toward developing shared understandings among students, families, and professionals are useful goals for educational practice and planning. The requirement of an Individualized Education Program (IEP) is often described as the cornerstone of the IDEIA, as it is a binding document that defines how the school will provide a child with an appropriate education in the LRE. If collaboration with families is important, then including the student in the IEP process is essential. Making Action Plans (MAPS) provides one protocol for centering the student in educational planning.
