3 minute read
The ABC'S of IEP'S
By: Sheila Wolfe - IEP Services
For most of us, the journey of specially educating our child starts with a diagnosis, which usually comes from a doctor. We praise and thank the doctor for shedding some light on the mystery of why our child is the way they are. If the diagnosis is of a physical nature, medical treatments are sought to “cure” the child or at least to improve the child’s condition.
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If, however, the diagnosis is of a cognitive, emotional, or behavioral nature, the treatment is not as apparent and parents begin the quest to discover just the right therapies, medication, and educational approach and content that will give their child the best chance at living a full, independent, and productive life. This can be a Herculean task, but there are some solid steps that every parent needs to take when confronted with this reality.
STEP ONE: FIRST STEPS (https://www.in.gov/fssa/firststeps/) From birth to age 3, First Steps provides family-based early intervention to children with developmental delays in Indiana. First Steps provides services such as Speech Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Special Instruction/Developmental Therapy, Audiological Services, Vision, Family Education and Training, and other services. In addition, the First Steps Coordinator will assist the family in transitioning into the public-school system on the child’s third birthday. There is typically a family co-pay for services which is determined on a sliding scale based on several factors.
STEP TWO: EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAM
Early Childhood (EC) Services are available through your public school system for children with developmental delays who have reached their third birthday. These services are similar to the services offered through First Steps although the amount of service provided through the school system is often less than what families are provided through First Steps. There is an assessment process to qualify for EC. The school will evaluate each student to determine the student’s needs. Parents need to make sure they share all available information from private sources (like doctors and therapists) with the school as well.
A typical Early Childhood Program will consist of a morning or afternoon session of about three hours in a specially designed classroom. Teachers, classroom assistants, and therapists are all available to deliver the necessary services contained in the child’s IEP (Individualized Education Plan). Developing this IEP is the first hurdle most parents face when working with their school system. In my experience, schools too often have a “one-size-fits-all” mentality when it comes to providing Early Childhood Services. Parents must be diligent about understanding their child’s unique needs and advocating for a program that addresses all those needs. This is your right by law.
For some children, the Early Childhood Program will not provide the intense services required to prepare them for school. Parents may want to investigate private services including ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis) Centers for students with significant delays, especially those on the autism spectrum.
STEP THREE: TRANSITION TO SCHOOL
Parents have total flexibility to try a variety of ways to meet their child’s developmental needs until the child turns 7. At 7, children are required to attend school in Indiana (or officially be enrolled in home-schooling). Deciding whether a typical Kindergarten program is appropriate for your 5-6-year-old is a difficult decision. Parents must balance the need for typical social/behavioral models with the reality that the intensity of educational services will be diluted in an environment with 25-30 kids. The option for full-time Kindergarten has helped address this in recent years. Still, many parents choose to provide other opportunities for learning until their child enters the first grade. Parents need to understand that school systems do not receive full funding for a student until first grade. This helps explain why school services are often so limited until that time.
It is critical, in all circumstances, to deliver the most intense program possible as early as possible. Research has shown repeatedly that the delivery of appropriate coordinated early intervention services will lead to the best outcomes for children. First Steps, schools, private providers, appropriate therapies, and organized diligent advocacy are just some of the tools each parent will need to provide the brightest possible future for their unique and wondrous special child.
