- Develop a partnership with the school. Share relevant information about your child's education and development. Your observation can be a valuable resource.
- Ask for an explanation of any aspect of the program that you don't understand. Educational terms can be confusing, so don't hesitate to ask.
- Make sure the IFSP outcomes and activities are specific and measurable. This will ensure that everyone teaching your child is working toward the same goals. Take the IFSP home to think about it before you sign it. You have 10 school days in which to make a decision.
- Make sure your child is included in the regular school activities program as much as is appropriate, including at least lunch, recess, and nonacademic areas such as art, music, and physical education.
- Monitor your child's progress and periodically ask for a report. If your child is not progressing, discuss it with the teacher and determine whether the program should be modified. As a parent, you can initiate changes in your child's educational program.
- Try to resolve directly with the school any problems that may occur with your child's evaluation, placement, or educational program. Most states have protection and advocacy agencies that can provide you with the guidance you need to resolve the problem.
- Keep records. There may be questions about your child that you will want to discuss, as well as meetings and phone conversations you will want to remember. It is easy to forget important information that is not written down.
- Join a parent organization. Besides sharing knowledge, experiences, and support, a parents group often can be an effective force on behalf of your child. Parents often find that, as a group, they have the power to bring about needed changes to strengthen special services.
Excerpted From:
Excerpt from Families and Children with Special Needs: Professional and Family Partnerships, by T.E. Smith, B.C. Gartin, N.L. Murdick, A. Hilton, 2006 edition, p. 213.
© ______ 2006, Merrill, an imprint of Pearson Education Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The reproduction, duplication, or distribution of this material by any means including but not limited to email and blogs is strictly prohibited without the explicit permission of the publisher.
Ask a Question
Have questions about this article or topic? Ask150 Characters allowed
Today on Education.com
HOME COOKING
10 Ways to Spice Up Your Barbecue
CELEBRATION
Happy Graduation
WORKBOOKS
New Workbooks Are Here!
Local SAT & ACT Classes
Popular Articles
Wondering what others found interesting? Check out our most popular articles.
- 20 Great Graduation Quotes
- Examining Possible Causes of ADHD
- Can Inventiveness Be Taught?
- What Do Test Scores Really Say About a School?
- Great Gifts for Middle School Grads
- Unraveling the Mystery of the Allergy Epidemic
- 9 Ways to Encourage Early Literacy
- Ten Great High School Graduation Gifts
- Is High-Stakes Testing Cheating Your Kid?
- Picky Eaters: Tips for Tackling and Myths Debunked
Add your own comment