Meet Ann
My name is Ann Bledsoe, and I'm a mom of a 24 year old man with autism. I've been involved with Special education as a parent for 18 years - in three states. I've met many parents like me, and we are all seeking anwers and solutions. Over the years I've read, studied and learned as much as I could about special education law and the IEP process. Along the way I also learned a few coping strategies. I hope that my experience will be helpful to you.
Back To School
Back to school...always exciting, sometimes dreaded by children and eagerly anticipated by parents. New clothes, new books, new crayons. For those of us with a child with special needs there is an aditional anxiety. If there is a new teacher, there is a new person to educate about our child. We all know how disruptive anything "new" can be. I would like to share with you some of the most often heard questions and complaints from parents like us during the first few weeks of school, and some suggestions on how to handle them.
Question: My Child's teacher hasn't read his IEP yet. How long do they have after school starts to read the IEP? Once an IEP is finalized by the IEP team, it is to be followed "as soon as possible" according to statute (34 CFR 300.323). Most school districts consider this to be 5 days - but that is just a rule of thumb. In order for it to be followed, it must be read. Here is how I have dealt with this issue in the past: Request an IEP meeting. That will ensure that the teacher reads the material, if only in the meeting itself. I cited concerns that the "IEP isn't being followed" when I called for that meeting. |
Not Enough Time
Question: The new teacher says she doesn't have time to do all of the things in the IEP - like his sensory diet, etc....what can I do about this?
Again, I would call a meeting. Why a meeting? When the IEP team meets, you get the benefit of the expertise of the entire team, and adjustments to the IEP can be made based on information that comes from these discussions. Since this team approved the IEP with the sensory diet, etc., they must have thought it was necessary. I suggest that the teacher may need additional classroom support if she is unable to follow the IEP due to time constraints. How can we help the teacher follow the IEP? If it is recommended that the solution is to remove the service, ask why the service was necessary last year and not now? Have it put in writing. |
Supports For School Personnel
Question: My child's new paraprofessional has never worked with anyone with autism before. I am worried about it, what can I do?
There is a little box in the IEP form called Supports for School Personnel. This is where the parent can ask for additional training for school personnel. You can ask for training on behavior interventions or just plain old autism training. (Easter Seals is one resource that is available in many areas across the state for autism training for school personnel). Even though we can request training, we cannot specify the methodology of the training, that part is the school's decision. |
IEP Meeting Times
Question: I thought we could only have one IEP meeting a year? It sounds like you call meetings all the time.
The team communicates better as a group. Remember too that there is no time limit on an IEP meeting. If the school has allowed an hour, but you still don't have the needed solution, adjourn the meeting for another time. The Missouri State Plan for Special Education says, under regulation IV, page 50, that an IEP meeting can be called when there is a parental concern. There are a few other reasons as well, but it's clear that the intent is to have at least one meeting, but potentially as many as are necessary to find resolution. You are your child's best advocate, remember that this is really your meeting. Make sure you come away from the meeting with the answers you need. |
Helpful Websites
Here is the Parent Guide, which is a nice summary and a bit easier to read:
http://dese.mo.gov/se/compliance/documents/ParentGuide.pdf
Here is a link to the Missouri State Plan for education:
http://www.dese.mo.gov/schoollaw/rulesregs/
Special Education Compliance monitors public agencies' implementation of
IDEA to direct time and attention to the success of young children and
students.
http://dese.mo.gov/se/compliance/compliancestaff.html
Here is a link to the Missouri State Plan for education:
http://www.dese.mo.gov/schoollaw/rulesregs/
Special Education Compliance monitors public agencies' implementation of
IDEA to direct time and attention to the success of young children and
students.
http://dese.mo.gov/se/compliance/compliancestaff.html