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Things to Know About the IEP

Is this the first school year that your child will be officially a part of a Special Education program? There are a lot of things that parents need to learn. One important thing to become familiar with is the IEP. It is a plan that guides what will happen with your child when he or she is at school. IEP stands for Individualized Education Program. It is a written plan that is designed to meet the specific special educational needs that your child has. All students who are part of a Special Education program are supposed to have an IEP. … Continue reading →

Teaching Children in the Changing World

I have been teaching for eight years. Although compared to some teachers, I have probably seen very little in my eight years of teaching. Yet I can definitely see a change in the children each year. I can also see a major change in the family lifestyle and home. It appears that children are becoming much more demanding and controlling. They are more rebellious and defiant. The lifestyle is more hectic and busy and the home lives are more confusing and unusual. There are children with several different members living in their home. There are children who live with aunts, … Continue reading →

What in the World is an IFSP?

In the world of special education, abbreviations abound. You might schedule an IEP for your ADHD child after EI and obtain OT services in compliance with IDEA, for example. It’s a special needs alphabet soup. I remember as a young mother of a child with a disability, that I often became confused by it all. IFSP is a term most every parent of a special needs child will have to become familiar with. IFSP stands for Individualized Family Service Plan. What is it? The typical scenario is that a doctor will first diagnose your infant or toddler with a developmental … Continue reading →

What Happened at Kyle’s IEP Meeting

Having a son with autism who is now a teenager means that, for me, IEP meetings are taken in stride. I drove up to the junior high school, parked, entered the building, and immediately saw Kyle waiting in the hallway by the office. A wide grin spread across his face when he saw me, and he began to stoop over and clap to himself. “Hello, Kyle!” I said, hugging him exuberantly. Then we went into the principal’s office, where Kyle’s special education teacher, principal, speech and language pathologist, and art teacher were waiting. (I have started to notice, interestingly enough, … Continue reading →

How to Prepare for Your Child’s IEP Meeting

Every child eligible for special education will have periodic Individualized Education Program meetings. (See my blog, “What in the World is an IEP?”) When it’s time for your child’s IEP meeting, you may have a lot of concerns. What questions should I ask? How will I know if the goals being presented are right for my child? When should I agree, and when should I disagree? As a parent, what role do I play at the meeting? Here are a few tips to help you prepare. 1. Spend some time prior to the meeting thinking about any issues that concern … Continue reading →

What in the World is an IEP?

Ionizing Electric Plug? Iced Eggnog Parfait? Impish Elf-like Person? No. In the world of special needs, you will become quickly familiar with the IEP, which stands for Individualized Education Program. What is an Individualized Education Program? In the simplest terms, it is a program or “plan” for your child’s education, put down on paper. The plan is put together in a meeting with you and the primary people involved in your child’s schooling. Your first IEP meeting should take place within 30 days of your child being determined eligible for special education. Once the program is put in place, it … Continue reading →

Inclusion of People with Intellectual Disabilities is Important

Does someone in your family have an intellectual disability (ID)? A survey shows that inclusion helps people who do not have intellectual disabilities to accept people who do have them. Personally knowing someone who has ID helps people to move past old stereotypes. A survey was done by Harris Poll on behalf of The Special Olympic International World Games, and in partnership with Shriver Media. The survey was conducted online between July 13 and July 15 of 2015. A total of 2,021 United States adults (ages 18+) took part in the survey. Out of this group, 1,103 were identified as … Continue reading →

Principal Suspended For Comments About Special Education Students

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A principal in Pennsylvania is in trouble for referring to a special needs student as a psychopath. This happened during a school meeting with the student and his mother. The principal sent the comment by text message. A meeting took place at Oxford Area High School, a public school in Pennsylvania. The meeting included principal David Madden, a student, and the student’s mother. The meeting also included Lisa Lightner, who is from the Arc of Chester County. During the meeting, Principal David Madden sent several text messages. I’m not sure exactly who the messages were intended to be read by. … Continue reading →

Parents Can Help Their Child’s Needs be Met at School

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Every parent wants to make sure that their child will have his or her needs met while the child is at school. Parents of children who have special needs are going to have to do some extra work to ensure that the school understands, and is prepared for, their child’s needs. Here are some tips about what to do. Find out how the school handles the distribution of medication. Is there a registered nurse that will be administering the medication that your child needs to receive while he or she is at school? Where in the school building will the … Continue reading →

Obtaining Guardianship for My Autistic Son

Now that my son Kyle is sixteen, his IEP meetings are rather routine. While I talk with his teacher and therapists, Kyle roves about the room, smiling, and making occasional comments. At his most recent meeting we discussed his progress—how he’s been improving his eye contact and social behaviors, how he loves to cook, and how he can balance a simple checkbook. We excitedly congratulated him on his first public speech—which he gave in his communications class in front of typical students. Before his speech day, we had written the text of the speech together, and he was able to … Continue reading →