September 2022 Special Needs Living Akron/Canton

Educational Perspective

ABCs of IEPs

By Rebecca McClary, Special Needs Mom and Parent Advocate

Rebecca McClary

TURNING TROUBLESOME TRANSITIONS INTO CHANGES TO CELEBRATE

Does the word transition make your stomach churn? It is okay; that is a natural human response. Change can make a seemingly simple transition feel like a storm is about to abrupt. Then you add in the struggles our kids with special needs face; now, the storm feels like a volcano! Many of our children with disabilities are triggered by changes in routines and schedules, new faces, different buildings or classrooms, and even new smells, sounds and sights. So, how can parents guide the transition so our kids have new experiences to celebrate? Below are some ideas of how you can utilize your child’s IEP to avoid a troublesome transition.

Take Notes … Data is key! I will say it again, data is key! When brainstorming ideas, you want to write down any triggers that your child or child’s teacher is sharing with you. As you document these episodes, start to look for common themes. For example, when my daughter goes into a new classroom or therapy room, she will be overstimulated by any loud noise or music. By sharing this information with her IEP team, the team can create ideas to make changes that will make a more calming environment for her. Bring the data to the IEP team with an open mind to see what possibilities are available for your child’s needs.

Ask for Communication … If your child is non-verbal or does not typically share much about their day, you can ask the IEP team to create a routine line of communication. This should be specific, as in how they will communicate with you and how often. This can be added to your child’s IEP in section 7 under accommodations. Having a consistent line of communication can help create more notes for your data collecting. Communication can be with teachers, aides, bus drivers, therapists, and any other school staff your child spends time with. I would suggest keeping it to as few staff as possible, just to make it easier for you to keep up with the line of communication. Seek frequent communication with staff that your child spends most of their day with or whoever is with them during their most challenging times.

Create a Schedule … Create a routine. A schedule can drastically help to reduce triggers during a transition. Anxiety feeds off the unknown, so by making a schedule, your child will know what to expect. Think about what format will work best for your child’s needs. Does he/ she do better with pictures, simple 2-3 word phrases, or short sentences? Adding pictures of buildings, rooms, teachers, therapists, counselors, and classrooms can help your child know exactly what to expect. Go over their schedule with them at night and in the morning before school. If you are unsure what their day looks like at school, ask your IEP team to create one and add this to their IEP. Adding this to your child’s IEP ensures that all staff are using the same tool and creates consistency. IEP team members may even offer to create a similar one for your home routine. Never hurts to ask!

Request an IEP Meeting … anytime! Remember, as your child’s parent, you are an essential part of the IEP team. There is no limit to how many IEP meetings you can request each school year. If you feel that you have found a need for change, speak up. I recommend that you request all meetings in writing. If you get into a situation where you feel you want more guidance, reach out to a parent mentor in your community. Transitions can create a lot of troublesome times for our children. I hope that these tips can help you turn those challenges into new changes that cause a celebration!