Know IEPs

Dr. Sarah Pelangka is both a professional in the field and a sibling of a sister with autism spectrum disorder. Dr. Pelangka is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst – Doctorate (BCBA-D) as well, as she received her Ph.D. in Special Education and Disabilities Risk Studies from UC Santa Barbara. Having worked in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), as well as special education (SPED), for 11+ years, Dr. Pelangka has come to meet hundreds of families and has attended nearly as many IEPs. Throughout her career, Dr. Pelangka has met a number of wonderful teachers and educators; however, it is often the case that parents of a child with different abilities are not informed of SPED laws, leaving them unprepared and at times, confused by their child’s IEP process. IEP meetings can be intimidating, due to the number of school personnel in attendance, as compared to one-to-two parents sitting on the opposite side of the table. Dr. Pelangka works to ensure parents walk into their child’s meeting with confidence, with the knowledge to make sound decisions and to ensure their child’s IEP team is working collaboratively, to meet the needs of their child. No parent wants to experience confrontation or discord, especially at a time that is supposed to be positive; a time meant for supporting and encouraging your child. Dr. Pelangka works to establish a positive collaborative relationship between the family and the school district; however, in the event parents’ rights are in question, Dr. Pelangka will afford parents a voice. Dr. Pelangka accompanies families to their IEP/504 Plan meetings, however most importantly, Dr. Pelangka informs and educates families on their rights, providing them with invaluable information they can take with them for years to come.