As a mother, I will never give up on my child. As a mother of a child who has autism, I will never give up hope.
I look into his eyes and I see all the potential that he has to offer to this beautiful world and I just know that one day the world can see what I see.

Follow my blog as I share my life and my experiences as a person who loves someone with autism.

Sunday, September 5, 2010

Individualized Education Plans

Everything you need to know about Individualized Education Plans (IEP) and tips to getting what your child needs: http://www.kidstogether.org/IEP.htm

Students with special needs who are receiving ongoing special education service require an IEP. This plan is a concise and usable document which summarizes the student's educational program. The IEP should be implemented and reviewed/updated at least annually. Its development should be seen as a dynamic, ongoing process:

  • are written records of planning prepared with input from students, parents/guardians, school personnel and other service providers, i.e., preschool staff
  • describe students' current learning, strengths, styles and needs, and identify appropriate goals
  • help in determining the degree of intervention needed
  • describe individual team members’ responsibilities
  • provide coherent plans for student learning and service needs
  • should include planning for students' transitions
  • assist in determining criteria for evaluation
  • help in determining how well students are meeting their goals, and form the basis of reporting students’ progress

Even though we are not the biggest fans of IEPs, our advice would be to ask a lot of questions. Even if the IEP just gets tossed into a filing cabinet at the end of the day, this is your child’s education, their future in your hands, and you need to make sure that you have done everything in your power as their parent and get all the answers you need.

It’s very important to get together and meet with everyone involved in your child’s education. Your child’s Individualized Education Plan (IEP) meeting is a great opportunity to make sure all your concerns are addressed, ideas are written down, suggestions are implemented, questions are answered and to make sure what you want to see out of the school year happens!

Always remember that no one knows your child more than you and that you are their biggest advocate.

Daniel

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