This is my favorite slide of the presentation that I give on the grief process.

Why?

It is the one that usually leads to epiphanies in parents and educators about how the sterile and technical IEP process can trigger feelings of grief.

It’s different for each parent.

It’s different for each IEP.

It’s different for every age.

It’s different for each transition.

However, the potential is there in each section of the IEP to trigger feelings of denial, anxiety, fear, guilt, depression, and anger.  There should be no surprise when it happens.  The empathic response should be ready.

“When you show deep empathy toward others, their defensive energy goes down, and positive energy replaces it. That’s when you can get more creative in solving problems.” Stephen Covey