IEP — Individualized Education Program

An Individualized Education Program (IEP) is a legal document that lays out specific educational goals, accommodations, and support services for students with special educational needs. In many countries, disability education law — such as IDEA (the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) in the United States — guarantees people with disabilities, including autistic students, the right to inclusive teaching practices suited to their needs.

An IEP should be developed collaboratively by the school, the family, and, whenever possible, the student themselves. It should specify: the student's current skills, short- and long-term goals, needed support services (speech therapy, occupational therapy, psychology), accommodations (extra time, an alternate testing location, use of AAC), and how and how often progress will be assessed.

In many countries, inclusion legislation has secured the right to attend mainstream school, but effective implementation remains uneven — with wide variation between regions, districts, and individual schools.