Written by SNSP
Edited by Shelley Kenow, IEP Consultant
After a long relaxing three months with your children, that time of year has come again. Believe it or not, it is time to go back to school! This time can either be very exciting or very stressful for students with special needs and their families, especially if the student is starting Kindergarten. One of the most important things that these families wished they knew more about, is IEPs. Lucky for you guys, Special Needs Special People has your back!
Before we jump into anything, let’s discuss what an IEP is and why it is so important. An Individualized Educational Plan is a document that outlines your child’s needs to be successful, and what the school must do to foster that success. In addition to trying to promote academic success, schools also strive to help students with abilities such as independence, safety, and speech skills. When a child has an IEP, they are also eligible for accommodations and modifications to their environment, school work, and accessibility. A few examples of possible accommodations include extended time, movement breaks, sensory diets, or physical, speech, psychological and occupational therapies or even a one-on-one teaching assistant to be with your child at all times might also be relevant and are considered related services through the school.
As you can see, IEPs can provide some very crucial services to help your child succeed in school. However, the real question now is, how to get the IEP process started. The first step would be to contact your school’s Special Ed department. You should write a letter stating your concerns and ask for your child to be evaluated for special education. The school will respond to you with an answer on whether they will evaluate or not. If they say they will not evaluate, they need to tell you exactly why they deem it unnecessary. If an evaluation is acceptable, you will need to sign documents giving them permission and the school will review your child’s development to that point to determine what evaluations will be necessary. This evaluation will include a variety of tests to gauge his or her abilities as well as where he or she might require additional services from the school. If they determine your child eligible, the special education team, administration and your child’s teacher will arrange a meeting to discuss what he or she needs in school.
However, if they disapprove of your child’s eligibility for services, you can request an Independent Education Evaluation (IEE). You can even hire an IEP consultant to help you with this process and advocate for your child’s needs. These consultants are familiar with the workings of the Special Ed system and will take the time to get to know your child and to learn about his or her needs.
Although the IEP process can seem long and stressful, it is important to remember that schools want what is best for every child and that there are many resources to help you out.
IEPs can help your child achieve his or her fullest potential and conquer milestones that you would never imagine. So before that big day comes, when you have to drop your child off at school for the first time, make sure that you initiate an IEP plan with your school. An IEP is the key for your child to discover endless possibilities.
Sources
“Understanding IEPs.” Understood.org,
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Photo from Breese Public Library,
Article reviewed by Shelley Kenow, IEP Consultant.
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