Back to School

 

This month is the month when our thoughts and our children return to school.  School supplies are purchased, backpacks are ready, and hopes are high for smooth sailing.  Now is the time to carefully prepare for any special needs your child might have.

 

IEPs

If there is an IEP, a plan is already laid out for school services.  This plan should reflect your active participation in the IEP process of planning your childÂ's education.

 

Record Keeping

It is important for parents to carefully organize both school records and medical records.  If you are a highly organized person, you will probably use a three ring binder, carefully planned and scripted dividers, page holders, tabs, etc. And you will diligently and methodically file everything as soon as you get it.  Then there is the rest of us.

 

If you are not a highly organized person, such as Â"moiÂ", the task can still be accomplished fairly simply.  Even though I no longer have special needs kids at home I continue the method I concocted during those years to Â"organizeÂ" my records. Back then, I utilized manila envelopes, those that hold standard size paper.  Each envelope is marked with a title, such as Â"IEPSÂ", Â"EvaluationsÂ", Â"CorrespondenceÂ", Â"Medical RecordsÂ".  It is no big deal to slip papers into these envelopes.  Even if they donÂ't get sorted further, it is a highly effective way to get your hands on the records you need right away, as you can neatly stack one envelope atop another in a desk drawer.  And records are a parentÂ's best friend. 

 

Copies of Records

You are entitled to a copy of your childÂ's school records, special education and any other records that pertain to your child. If your child has been in school for several years you no doubt now possess a smudged, hard to read carbon type copy of former IEPs.  Your copy should be just as durable and permanent as the schoolÂ's copy.  You can request a Â"white copyÂ" of the schoolÂ's Â"whiteÂ" or original copy.  If you decide to ask for a white copy, you might take some of the old ones to school to show their present condition.

 

Schools keep many records pertaining to your child, whether he is named on them or not.  There are classroom cum files, office records, attendance records, permission slips, report cards, disciplinary slips, etc.  Many parents are unaware that they have the right to examine all of their childÂ's records, and when necessary have copies of those records. 

 

It can be helpful to occasionally ask to see all your childÂ's records, to be sure you and the school have identical records.  This fosters good communication and can prevent misunderstandings in the future. 

 

Communication

Good communication is key in any relationship, including your relationship with  teachers and any other personnel who may be interacting with your child, particularly if there are any behavioral needs.  Unstructured time periods, such as the lunch room, hallway passing, before and after school, are often difficult for some children to successfully navigating day after day.  It is best to be proactive, alert to any incidents.  If there appears to be a pattern of incidents, you can request a meeting to consider accommodations that would enable your child to be successful in those settings.

 

So off to school we go, prepared to sort out those unsorted records in a way that works for us, individually, as parents.  And we will be proactive in recognizing issues that need attention and intervention before they get out of hand, keep documentation of such issues, and utilize lines of communication as soon as there is a need.  Your teachers and your school will appreciate your being proactive, involved, and well informed.