Home Observations

Based on your own observations at home, create a journal documenting your child's developmental strengths and weaknesses (or purchase one of ours). Determine what parameter the school has to work within, then outline the "key elements" you would like to work on for that school year!

School Services

Be specific about how you are hoping your child's school services will help him/her and request documents to show how they are going about providing them and the methods used. You can maximize their goal achievements by working in unison with these service providers. Also, if you are utilizing outsourced services, you can share this information with them and possibly get more recommendations!

Key:

If you are using outsourced services ask your provider if he/she can attend an IEP meeting with you! Try to reserve the time away from their practice by asking them to attend during the topic talks you think (or the provider thinks) better fits their contribution. Also share your child's IEP results with them to see if they can incorporate activities that may help with school and home goals!

Take Notes

It is important that you not miss a beat when meeting with the staff and administration to discuss the services, and the expected results of such! Don't go in thinking you will remember everything discussed or that you can depend solely on the words spoken, give yourself every advantage to knowing and understanding what the recommendations are, and the modules being used to provide your child with F.A.P.E. (Fair and Appropriate Public Education) !

Ask Questions!

Go into your IEP meetings ready to ask questions based on what you have observed from your child and what the school suggest. So much information will be coming at you that you may feel like you are drowning it! Take time to write down questions as you listen to things you would like clarity on, or that may have been covered to quickly, so that you can ask them later!