IEP Advocacy Resources

Are you a parent who is overwhelmed by the Individualized Education Plan (IEP) process and are often left confused?  If the answer is yes, then you are not alone. Navigating the world of IEPs in a daunting task for parents and professionals alike.

In my own attempt to learn more about what parents are entitled to and what they can legally ask for, I stumbled upon The IEP Success Kit at The Special Education Advisor website-http://www.specialeducationadvisor.com/

Although a bit of an investment ($39.95 for members and $49.99 for non-members), this resource is great because a lot of the upfront work is already done for you! The kit comes with a three ring binder with document printouts as well as a CD where you can use templates to type in your child's information. You can simply bring this portable organizational device to meetings and appointments and have everything at your fingertips. The binder is organized in tabs, which include:

• General information, such as school personnel working with your child, contact information etc.
• IEP info- for notes, prep sheets, IEP checklists etc
• Report Cards and Achievement Tests
• School Assessments, including charts explaining how to interpret scores and the Bell Curve
• Private Assessments
• Communication Logs- Sample letters, forms to request meetings, placement changes, non-compliance paperwork etc.
• Complaints- with links to state complaint forms
• Settlement Agreements/Hearing Officer Decisions
• Special Education Definitions, Acronyms, and FAQs 

 

Step-by-step, this kit takes you through the whole process-- beginning with requesting an IEP in the first place. It provides IEP background info and clearly defines special education terms that are often left unexplained. If you are a parent or advocate that is often pressed for time and become overwhelmed when piecing together the information you need to prepare for your child's IEP meeting, the IEP Success might be the answer for you!

Another great resource when it comes to special education law and advocacy is http://www.wrightslaw.com/. The Wrights are Professors of Law at the William And Mary Law School and their website provides a wealth of information about special education issues, including IEP resources and answers to frequently asked questions.

Pledge to become organized in the new year and check out these resources to help you get started!

-Molly

Improving OUR Communication in 2011: The power of the daily log



Children and adults on the autism spectrum struggle with communication.  It is a frequently discussed topic but what about those of us that work with these individuals?  We as therapists, teachers, parents, etc. need to improve our own communication amongst each other. Daily logs are great when used and used properly.  There are many things to keep in mind on both sides of the dialogue. 

Reminders for professionals:

• Write in the a log:  Even if there isn't much time put a quick note of "Had a great day" or a statement that you will follow up with an email or phone call.  Just to feel that you had some contact with the parents/guardians.
• Be positive:  So, you have been bitten, kicked and screamed at all day.  There are days like this that are hard to find anything good but try to add something that shows you value their child.  Parents are not wanting to make your life miserable and cringe when reading all the things that went wrong.  Try to think of their child as if he/she were your own and what you would want to hear about. This is not to say you don't discuss the things that went wrong but try to include something that was successful as well.
• Be specific: Parents want to know what they did that day so when you have the chance add specific information.  Be the voice for the child that is unable to tell about their day.  This allows the parents to feel even more a part of their child's day even if they don't have the verbal abilities.  Even children that can speak they are usually unable to give an accurate description of events.  Having information about the day can help parents work on dialogue at home about what they did at school. 
• Give updates:  Let the parents know what goals you are working on whether it be behavioral or academic.  What milestones has that child met?  Many times, parents feel 'out of the loop' with where their child is academically.  It is always nice for them to get a reminder or update of what you are working on especially if you hope to have similar objectives for at home.

Reminders for parents:

• Changes:  Your time is precious and limited but having a quick message about changes in your child's life is important.  There are often nights that he/she didn't sleep, medication adjustments, family upsets, etc.  These things can hugely affect the child at their school environment.  It is always helpful to know what expect for your child that day and being aware in case things seem a little off that day/week.  This allows the teacher to make adjustments to their expectations for your child.
• Give updates:  Just as the teachers need to update you, they need to be updated as well.  There are many times that milestones are met in one environment and not in the other.  Let the teacher know if something such as potty training has shown some progress at home so that it can be approached in a similar manner at school.
• Feedback/Questions:  As a therapist, I want to know what your family needs.  I need to know where the goals fit into your life and what questions you have.  If there is something that you are not understanding regarding therapy, school, etc., open up that dialogue to see if you can gain some clarification. 

Communication logs can be a simple binder that is sent back and forth with the student; many times clipped into a larger classroom 3-ring notebook.  Each participant can write the date and what information they need to share that day.  There is not a formal system necessary but you can add to the information as needed.  Many teachers also include a place for assignments to be initialed by parents, reading logs, etc. This can be included within the log or in a separate section.  Starting off fresh for the new year is a great way to improve relationships all around and to get to know the individual on the spectrum even more. 

-Abby

Coulter Sibling Videos

As Abby mentioned in the previous post, it is SO important to think about the siblings of those with autism and their specific needs. There are a variety of resources out there for siblings and I think the Coulter videos-- 'Understanding Brothers and Sisters on the Autism Spectrum' and 'Understanding Brothers and Sisters with Asperger Disorder' are among the most helpful.

 We've had the privilege to meet the Coulters on a number of occasions throughout the years and they are truly a remarkable family. They began making videos after their son, Drew was diagnosed with Asperger's. What I love about the this particular video series is that siblings get a chance to hear from others with similar circumstances so that they don't feel as alone.

There are several video options depending on the individual's age and maturity level. One video is designed for kids between the ages of 4-7, one for 7-12 year-olds, and one for siblings ages 12 and above. Siblings candidly talk about both the positives and negatives of growing up with a brother or sister with autism or Asperger's and give real life advice along the way!

_________________________________________________________________________

These DVDs provide insight to parents about the unique feelings of the sibling without autism and can serve as a conversation starter with their child. In addition, there is also a fourth video of interviews with mothers and fathers specifically designed for parents.

Some voices of siblings from the videos quoted in Dan Coulter's article "Autism, Asperger Syndrome and the Siblings":

"Sometimes when we go in the car, I have to watch my sisters' movies, and it's Barney, Wiggles, or Teletubbies... really little kid shows.. but I have to watch it... because that's what you have to do when you have autistic sisters or brothers."- Alex

"When he says something and the person that he's talking to doesn't understand him, I can understand him so I tell the person that Jaeden's talking to what he's saying." - Elianah 

"I get along with him a lot better than I used to when I was about six or seven. We used to fight a lot back then, but now, we help each other out and we're pretty much tight brothers." -DeP 

Regardless of whether it's through a doll, a video, a book,  a sibling group, or just a chat while riding in the car I think the take home point here is to keep the lines of communication open with siblings and give them a chance to be heard. We don't always know what they are thinking and feeling unless we ask. If you're not sure how to approach it or where to start, I recommend checking out these videos to get some ideas!

Happy New Year to Everybody!

- Molly