Accommodations are extra supports you can get if you have limited English skills or have a disability. Schools must have interpreters at meetings and give you documents translated into your own language so you can fully participate in meetings. Schools must also have meetings at accessible locations.

Yes. The school must give you an interpreter if you are not comfortable talking in English or have a disability, such as being deaf/hard of hearing.

Yes. The school must give you translated copies of your child’s IEP or 504 Plan, any tests that have been done, and a copy of your special education legal rights.

Yes. You have a right to an interpreter even if you can speak some English or have limited hearing.

Yes. The school must give you an interpreter even if your child speaks English.

Write your child’s case manager before your meeting. Ask for translated copies of the IEP/504 Plan and any test results to be sent to you before the meeting. You can also ask for an interpreter trained in special education to be at the meeting to translate for you. Do this before the meeting so the school has time to get you what you need.

Stop the meeting. Before you leave, write a letter saying that you stopped the meeting because an interpreter or translated documents were not given to you. Ask that these things be given to you when you reschedule the meeting. Ask for the letter to become a part of your child’s school records.

See Equip for Equality’s “What to Do When You Disagree with the School” fact sheet for more information.

If what the translator says does not make sense to you or if the translator will not say something to the team that you asked her to, write this in a letter or email to the school. Ask for the letter/email to be put in your child’s file.