What is an IEP for cerebral palsy?
A cerebral palsy IEP is a written education plan developed specifically for an eligible student with a disability. It identifies the child’s special educational needs, sets measurable goals, and explains the services and support the school will provide.
Nearly 1 in 5 public school students has an IEP or 504 plan.
Cerebral palsy can affect children differently. One student may primarily need accommodations for limited mobility, while another may need assistive technology, speech therapy, or extensive special education support.
A cerebral palsy IEP lets the school tailor services to the individual child rather than using the same approach for every student with CP. Personalized education plans help kids get what they need to succeed.
If you have questions about how your child may need support, talk with our team of registered nurses for free. They’ll help you learn more about CP and how it affects kids as they attend school.
Does a child with cerebral palsy qualify for an IEP?
A cerebral palsy diagnosis does not automatically qualify a child for an IEP. They must have a qualifying disability and need special education and related services because of that disability.
Cerebral palsy may qualify under categories such as orthopedic impairment, depending on how the condition affects the child and their educational needs.
Some children with cerebral palsy have additional developmental disabilities, an intellectual disability, visual impairment, or learning disabilities.
Others have typical cognitive abilities but need support because movement, communication, muscle tone, or other physical challenges affect participation at school.
How do you request an evaluation?
Parents can ask for an IEP evaluation at any time. Send a written request for an evaluation for special education services under IDEA, and prepare to potentially provide documentation of your child’s cerebral palsy diagnosis.
IDEA doesn’t require a diagnosis for a student to qualify for an IEP, but many state statutes do. They may specifically require diagnosis documentation for IDEA categories like Orthopedic Impairment or Other Health Impairment. School administrators can clarify what’s necessary based on your state laws.
Your IEP request can be a dated letter or email to your child’s principal or the district’s special education director. Briefly describe how cerebral palsy affects your child at school, such as mobility, handwriting, or communication. You can also attach relevant therapy reports or medical records.
After your request is sent, the school district will have a timeline to respond and provide either a written refusal or paperwork to obtain your consent for your child’s evaluation.
While the timeline can vary by district and state, a 60-day deadline to complete the evaluation may begin once the school receives your signed consent form.
What is included in a cerebral palsy IEP?
Every IEP is individualized, so it generally describes the student’s current abilities, goals, services, and how the team will measure progress.
- Accommodations: Changes that help your child access instruction or demonstrate what they know without necessarily changing what they are expected to learn
- Annual goals: Measurable academic, communication, physical, social, or functional IEP goals for cerebral palsy students
- Assistive technology: Devices or services that help your child communicate, write, access educational materials, or participate in class
- Current academic and functional performance: Information about how they’re doing in school and how their disability affects participation in the general curriculum
- Participation with other students: Information about how your child will learn alongside students without disabilities
- Progress measurement: How the school will measure progress toward annual goals and when you’ll receive progress reports
- Related services: Services needed to help your child benefit from special education, such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, or speech therapy
- Special education services: Specialized instruction and support your child will receive
The exact contents depend on your child’s strengths, challenges, and educational needs. An experienced IEP team can connect them with the resources and services they need to thrive in school.
Assistive technology
Assistive technology can help remove barriers to learning and participation. Depending on the student, this could include communication devices, adapted keyboards, speech-to-text tools, alternative writing equipment, or other technology that allows greater access to the general curriculum.
These devices and tools can improve a child’s independence and confidence in the classroom. If you have questions about the assistive technology available for kids with CP, download our free Cerebral Palsy Guide for more information.
Occupational therapy
Occupational therapy (OT) may help children perform tasks needed during the school day. An occupational therapist might address handwriting, fine motor skills, positioning, self-care, or the use of classroom materials.
Some OT services also help kids who struggle to process sensory information in school. It depends on your child’s specific needs and their evaluation results.
Physical therapy
Physical therapy (PT) may help a student improve or maintain mobility, positioning, balance, or physical access needed to participate at school.
A school-based physical therapist may focus on educational access and participation rather than providing every type of therapy a child may receive medically. They may work with your child on navigating busy hallways or sitting comfortably at their desk.
Specialized instruction
Special education teachers can adapt instruction and teaching methods to each student’s needs. They also understand how to create lesson plans in accordance with IEPs.
“Many children with cerebral palsy require extra support within the school setting to be able to access their free and appropriate public education (FAPE). These supports are typically made available through special education services.”
— Jamie Bay, Ed.S., Certified School Psychologist
Not every student with CP has a specific learning disability or needs modified academic instruction. Their IEP should reflect their abilities and needs, which special education teachers can use when planning lessons throughout the year.
Speech therapy
Some children with cerebral palsy have difficulty producing speech or communicating effectively. Speech therapy may address speech, language, or other communication needs that affect education.
An IEP may require that the school provide speech therapy so your child can participate in lessons, activities with classmates, and extracurricular activities alongside their peers. Practicing skills like articulation and pronunciation can become crucial to succeeding in school and later in life.
Who is on the IEP team?
Parents work with school professionals as members of the cerebral palsy IEP team. They provide critical background information about their child that educators may not otherwise know.
- A school district representative
- At least one general education teacher when applicable
- At least one special education teacher or provider
- Other professionals or individuals with knowledge about the child when appropriate
- Someone who can interpret evaluation results
- The child’s parent or parents
- The student, when appropriate
Physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech-language professionals, and other providers may also participate when their expertise is relevant. They can help set IEP goals for students with cerebral palsy that support better classroom participation.
Parents are crucial members of this team as well. They can share information about their child’s strengths, needs, communication, mobility, medical considerations, and experiences outside the classroom.
How is a cerebral palsy IEP created?
The cerebral palsy IEP process generally begins with an evaluation to determine whether a child qualifies for special education under IDEA. If the child is eligible, the IEP team meets to review their needs and develop the program.
The team sets goals and determines which services, accommodations, related services, and supports the child needs. Parents and caregivers may participate in those conversations so the plan is most effective for their child.
Once a cerebral palsy IEP is in place, the team reviews it at least annually to evaluate the child’s progress and update the program as needed. Students must also be reevaluated periodically under IDEA.
However, parents don’t have to wait for the annual meeting to raise concerns about their child’s IEP. If their child’s needs change or the cerebral palsy IEP isn’t working as expected, parents can contact the school and request another IEP team meeting.
Cerebral palsy IEPs and the least restrictive environment
IDEA requires that children with disabilities be educated in the least restrictive environment appropriate for their needs. This generally means that students with disabilities should learn alongside children without disabilities to the maximum extent appropriate.
A child should not be placed in a more restrictive setting simply because they have cerebral palsy.
For example, a student who uses a wheelchair but follows the general curriculum may spend most or all of the school day in a general education classroom with accommodations and physical support.
Other children may need more specialized instruction or services during part or all of their school day. Placement decisions should be based on the individual student’s IEP and educational needs.
IEP vs. 504 plan for cerebral palsy
A cerebral palsy IEP and a 504 plan can both support students with disabilities, but they aren’t the same.
An IEP is governed by IDEA and is designed for students who qualify for special education and related services. It includes individualized goals, services, and specific requirements for measuring educational progress.
A 504 plan falls under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. It can provide accommodations and other supports that give a student with a disability equal access to education, even if the child doesn’t need special education under IDEA.
For example, a student with cerebral palsy who performs at grade level but needs accessible seating or assistance navigating the school building may potentially receive support through a 504 plan.
The appropriate option depends on how the child’s disability affects their education and what services they need.
Moving from early intervention to an IEP
Young children with cerebral palsy may receive early intervention services before they reach school age.
Under IDEA, eligible infants and toddlers may receive services through an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP). An IFSP focuses on the child's developmental needs and the support services the family needs.
As the child approaches preschool age, families may begin planning the transition from early intervention into school-based services. If the child qualifies for preschool special education, an IEP can then guide their educational program and services.
What can parents do if an IEP isn’t meeting their child’s needs?
If your child’s cerebral palsy IEP isn't effective, document your concerns and discuss them with your child’s teachers, therapists, or other IEP team members.
You can ask questions about your child’s progress, request information about whether goals are being met, and ask the school to convene an IEP meeting when changes may be needed.
IDEA also gives parents procedural safeguards when they disagree with decisions involving their child’s special education.
Parental protections can include rights related to:
- Complaints
- Due process
- Evaluations
- Mediation
- Records
- Written notice
The U.S. Department of Education provides information about IDEA requirements and parents’ rights. State education agencies and local school districts can also provide information about procedures that apply where your child attends school.
Our free guide can help you learn about special education options for cerebral palsy so you can advocate for your child when they need it most. Download your free Cerebral Palsy Guide now to see what may be available.
Understand what IEPs are and get support
The right IEP can help a child with cerebral palsy participate more fully at school and work toward meaningful academic, physical, communication, and social goals.
Educators can meet with you to identify your child’s needs, set goals, and coordinate services that support learning. You can also review your child’s progress reports, communicate with their teachers and therapists, and speak up when your child's needs change.
Our team is here to help as well. Call us at (855) 220-1101 to speak with us about resources for kids with CP. You aren’t alone in figuring out the next best step for your child.
