Posted: August 28, 2015
A new school year is almost upon us, which is almost impossible to believe! As you have hopefully already dived into our Summer with CP guide and had a blast with your children, returning to class is still right around the corner. As a parent of a child with special needs, preparing for a new school year goes beyond supplies and can involve a wide assortment of challenges that change each season.
As a starting point to try to make this process more of a checklist than an adventure, we have five tips for parents to begin considering today, before school gets any closer, for the upcoming school year:
- Review Your IEP For Changes. A lot can happen over a summer, or you may not have updated your IEP at the end of the school year last year. Or perhaps you have everything perfectly set. Regardless of your comfort with the existing IEP, review it now and at least once more before the school year begins. Doing so can not only help you catch lapses on the part of other team members, but perhaps also provide insight for another parent should the topic come up!
- Contact Any New Teachers. While most parents stress over being overly communicative with teachers, the truth is that special needs children have… special needs. Do not hesitate to open the lines of communication with your child’s new teachers to find out their experience with children whose needs are similar to yours. What’s more, this can help in opening lines of dialogue in the future should any concerns or problems arise that you would like addressed.
- Explore Opportunities to Enhance Existing Educational Efforts. Whether you are trying to supplement your IEP with emotional and dietary changes aimed at easing the process or looking into how the latest technology can help your child at school, keep on looking for opportunities to expand your child’s IEP. Unfortunately, many parents believe the school or teachers will provide all of the opportunities available. Keep exploring grants, assistance organizations (we can help with both of those), as well as your child’s current interest and comfort with technology for new chances to help your child at school!
- As Much as Possible, try to Communicate With Your Child About His or Her Goals. An IEP can, at times, only be as effective as how it fits your child’s goals and needs. By looking to include your child in the planning in an unofficial state and tracking progress toward goals, you will be able to see what changes need to be made as the school year progresses, while also making your child a part of their own academic success! This can also help when looking for insight on any concerns your child may have regarding transitions, bullying, making new friends, etc.
- Contact Us! For help connecting with information on any of the items above, or on a wide assortment of other topics, contact us today! Our care team is here to help, providing quick access by email to hundreds of great assistance programs, resources and more. Contact us by filling out our simple form or call (800) 692-4453
(800) 692-4453 FREE today!
These suggestions are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to exploring and improving your child’s educational experience. Find out more about special education, IEPs, adaptive equipment, technology and more by visiting our website or Facebook Page today!
