Start with just a
general list of thoughts. Every thought you have concerning your
child's school year gets included on this list. Then, group them
into categories, O.T., P.T., Speech and Assistive Technology,
etc. Compile a summary of your concerns for your child and give
examples of how the school can take care of such issues. Then
you organize the information that you have. The cover page
should include all members of the ARC/IEP team. The next page is
an index of things that you want addressed. With our meeting our
list of parental concerns ended up being 9 pages long. I have a
lot of issues, LOL!! You will love how it feels when you give
each their copy and the moment of silence as they each read
their copy is awesome. From this point on I seemed to get more
respect. Once they realized that I was serious in my concerns
and that I knew that my child had legal rights they were more
willing to work with us.
**You
might also want to consider having everyone sign your copy and
initial each page to verify that they did in fact, read it.
**If
your child's therapists recommend adapted chairs or standers or
such, please have your therapist state in the IEP that it is for
positioning only and NOT for timeout or restraint!!
**Please,
remember that if you do not like what the IEP says you DO NOT
have to sign it!!
Here
is an example of a Parental Concerns handout!!
AUSTIN'S
IEP MEETING
April 2, 1999
IEP TEAM
(list
all team members)
Parental
Concerns to be Addressed
PT/OT
Speech/Communications
Assistive Technology
IA/classroom-Personal
Aide
Disability awareness for
peers
Extended school year
P.T./O.T.
Some type of sub program
for the times when the therapists are not able to come. Without
this therapy Austin's primitive reflexes will become more
involved causing more problems in his being able to sit in a
chair, hold crayons, feed himself, along with causing several
other types of problems.
Swing for playground
Pony-walker- for
classroom
SPEECH/COMMUNICATIONS
Speech 4 times per week
Austin to develop an
increased substantive skill in expressive communication, social
skills, development and demonstration of academic skills.
Austin to develop a greater functioning
skill in the use of devices.
(cheap-talk, computer)
To focus on
communication partners, teachers, parents, friends to use
augmentative communication devices which require special skills
on the part of these persons. They must be patient to enable
Austin to complete a thought and not ask questions and
communicate in ways that encourage him to use the device more
than just yes/no.
All persons involved
with Austin's school day must learn these skills, also persons
in home and community.
ASSISTIVE
TECHNOLOGY
****(It
is really plain and simple what Assistive Technology is, as it
is addressed in IDEA. So, why do the school systems act like
they know nothing about it????
Be sure to
include this information so they can't have any excuses for not
understanding what Assistive Technology really is.)****
Children with
disabilities will need appropriate supports in order to
successfully progress in the general curriculum.
"(25)
The term 'assistive technology device' means any item, piece of
equipment, or product system, whether acquired commercially off
the shelf, modified, or customized, that is used to increase,
maintain, or improve functional capability of individuals with
disabilities".
"(26)
The term 'assistive technology service' means any service that
directly assists an individual with a disability in the
selection, acquisition, or use of an assistive technology
device.
Such term includes--
"(A)
the evaluation of the needs of an individual with a disability,
including a functional evaluation of the individual in the
individual's customary environment;
"(B)
purchasing, leasing, or otherwise
providing for the acquisition of assistive technology devices by
individuals with disabilities;
"(C)
selecting, designing, fitting, customizing, adapting, applying,
maintaining, repairing, or replacing of assistive technology
devices;
"(D)
coordinating and using other therapies, interventions, or
services with assistive technology devices, such as those
associated with existing education and rehabilitation plans and
programs;
"(E)
training or technical assistance for an individual with
disabilities, or, where appropriate, the family of an individual
with disabilities; and
"(F)
training or technical assistance for professionals
(including individuals providing
education and rehabilitation services),
employers, or other individuals who provide services to, employ,
or are otherwise substantially involved in the major life
functions of individuals with disabilities."
Assistive
Technology/Communication
Switch activities for
center time.
Someone to be responsible for making the overlays for the
Intellikeys to go along with Austin's daily activities.
Software for Intellikeys.
Environmental controls for Austin's use
in classroom.
(one example would
be to activate the music for musical chairs)
Technology promised to
get us a list of technology available in the district?????????
Until someone is trained
as an Assistive Technology Consultant Austin needs 1 time/week
at Assistive Technology lab.
Disability
awareness
Disability awareness program for peers
(the entire school).
Disability awareness
books and dolls for the classroom.
Classroom
One to one
(Personal Aide)
is a necessity.
Concerns that Austin is
too familiar with his Aide and also with his teachers, which
would cause him to not put forth a honest effort.
I would like for Austin
to have a fresh start for educational learning by putting him
into a new classroom and giving him a new IA.
GOALS
**
Austin's educational goal should be to increase his skills so
the he can really "be involved in and progress in the general
curriculum."**
Extended
school year
Austin cannot go through
the summer without services without his skills regressing.
He regressed horribly
over Christmas break, because he missed P.T. and O.T.!!
REQUESTS
Complete Assistive
Technology assessment just before the start of school with all
therapists involved.
Substitute for Special
Ed. teacher so she can help with the classroom modifications for
Austin, to promote inclusion.
***Some
really helpful links***
This
information was compiled by
Francie Robinson
If I can help you
with anything more specific, I'd be glad to!!
