AI helped us create a school IEP beyond our expectations
By Anchel Krishna
Tackling the extra work that comes with parenting a child with a disability can feel lonely. Last year we found an unexpected partner in AI.
It was time to update our daughter Syona's Individual Education Plan (IEP), which is a school document that outlines her educational programs, accommodations and needs. It provides guidance so we're all working together towards the same goals. But the thought of redoing it was daunting.
So we turned to AI to see if it could help.
We refined our prompts, removing identifying information about Syona, and added details about her learning profile, strengths and needs, the classes she was taking, and the IEP itself.
We started by asking it to develop an attainable number of learning expectations for each of her courses, given how busy and full her classroom was. We then asked for strategies, resources and support services to meet each goal. Once we were comfortable with both sets of information, we asked how we could assess whether Syona had learned the new skills.
Within seconds we had something that was much better than anything we could have created, or even what we expected from AI. It was clean, organized, easy to follow and it mapped out possible goals in a way that felt realistic and meaningful.
We read through it, clarified some details about Syona and asked AI to refine the document. The next version was even better. We then asked it to remove what wasn't within the scope of the school or realistic for us to carry out, references outside the Canadian environment, like the Americans with Disabilities Act, and items that were similar or repetitive.
AI helped us translate our goals into plain language. Each one included what skill we wanted to build, where it would happen, what level of support she would need and how we would know she had reached it, along with connections to any bigger aims. There was space for questions and collaboration.
Then we did a lot of hands-on editing and landed on a document that was very easy to discuss with Syona’s teacher. She asked how we had done this, and we told her how we used AI and just how helpful it had been. I also think it helped the teacher to update Syona’s IEP efficiently.
In AI, we found a thought partner who saw Syona’s potential, was able to articulate it, and pushed us to see her with fresh eyes.
AI became Syona’s advocate. Obviously, AI doesn’t love Syona or know her the way we do. But it found language to help Syona and her team focus on the goals and strategies that will help her continue to grow.
It made the work feel doable instead of exhausting. It helped us advocate with clarity. And it made us feel like we were not carrying the weight alone.
Here are a few ways you might consider using AI if you are navigating something similar:
-Summarize long assessments into quick bullet points.
-Draft potential IEP goals so you can refine them with your team.
-Brainstorm ideas for strategies, tactics and evaluation in an IEP.
-Prepare for meetings by role playing questions or concerns.
-Turn scattered notes into a one-page summary you can share with staff.
-Help create and organize questions for medical appointments.
-Use it for household tasks, like meal planning, grocery lists and scheduling to help free up your time.
None of this replaces your instincts or the professionals who work with your child. Think of it as a helpful assistant that makes room for you to spend more quality time with your kid. Of course, it is important to protect yourself while using any digital tool. A few simple tips can help keep things safe, and I always encourage people to use it only to their comfort level:
-Remove names or identifying details before pasting text.
-Avoid including sensitive medical or location details.
-Treat AI suggestions as drafts not conclusions. They always need a discerning human eye.
-Remember that AI is a tool. It has a warm, supportive tone because it is built to try and please you. But always think about what it is telling you critically and apply your own judgment.
-Don’t treat AI as a source of information. Googling and using good, reputable sources and websites are still your best bet for information.
Parenting a child with a disability is full of moments where you feel alone and overwhelmed. While AI didn’t change that entirely, it did help to lessen the administrative mental load, while reminding us of the strengths and potential of this amazing daughter we are lucky to have.
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