Are you the parent of a child with autism or dyslexia, that knows what educational services your child needs, but do not know how to communicate them to special education personnel? A parent input statement, that is written before the IEP meeting, can help you be an effective advocate for your child, and bring up needed educational services that will help your child learn.
A parent input statement is a one page statement, where you can give written input into your child’s education. You can include: things that work for your child, things that don’t work, academic struggles that they have, behavioral difficulties, any educational or related services that you believe they need, extended school year (ESY), assistive technology (AT).
Tips for writing input statement
1. Keep it short, maximum one page.
2. Use facts as much as possible.
3. State what educational and related services you think your child needs, and why.
4. Discuss academic progress or lack of academic progress, and what you think needs to be done about it.
5. Include any adaptations, modifications, educational or related services that are helping your child learn.
6. Discuss any behavioral difficulty your child has, and what the school has done about it. Also state if you feel that they are not handling the behavior/discipline according to IDEA.
Parent Input Statement 9-6-29xx My son Tommy is 9 years old, is in fourth grade, and receives special education services under the category of Learning Disability. I have received the results of his Woodcock Reading Mastery test from his teacher, Mrs. Jones. Tommy’s Word Identif ication at a grade equivalent of 1.7, word attack (decoding)of 2.7, and a basic skills cluster with a grade equivalent of 1.9. This means that my son Tommy’s reading is at least 2 years below his grade appropriate peers. I am very concerned that if Johnny does not receive appropriate instruction in reading, his life will be negatively altered, forever.
IDEA and No Child Left Behind state that curriculum must be “scientifically research based.” What this means is that their is research to show that the program works to teach children to read. The Orton-Gillingham Methodology of simultaneous multi sensory instruction has many years of research to back its effectiveness with teaching children to read. I have information on this methodology that I would like to share with the IEP team.
Tommy, not only needs an Orton-Gillingham reading program, but the person who is teaching him must be trained in this area. My son also needs to receive the program for the recommended length of time, not less. Tommy is currently receiving 30 minutes a day of reading instruction while the Orton-Gillingham program recommends xx amount per day of instruction. Thank you for working with me to help my son Tommy learn to read.
Miss Smith
Mention at the beginning of your meeting that you have a parent input statement to share with the IEP team.Bring up the parent input statement when you think it is an appropriate time.Bring enough copies for everyone at the meeting, and make sure that it is attached to your child’s IEP.
A parent input statement will help you clearly state what educational or related services that your child needs. Remember that for your child to receive an appropriate education the instruction they receive must “give meaningful benefit” to your child.
By: JoAnn Collins
Posts Tagged ‘Dyslexia’
My Child has Autism! What is My Role in His Education?
January 1st, 2010
I am the proud mother of two young children that were diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder a few years ago. One is now in grade one and the other will register for kindergarten in the spring.
As a teacher, I already had some experience with IEP (Individualized Educational Plan) meetings which helped me a great deal with my son’s first IEP. I was able to also inform my husband which also did a lot of research on the matter so he was already well prepared to face our son’s IEP.
Over the 17 years of teaching experience that I possess, I soon discovered that most parents tend to lack both information and confidence in their role and what type of services they can obtain for their child.
One of the sad things that I also have learned is that depending on the school, the services vary and if you do not ask for them, you will not necessarily have them offered to you either.
Both my children are situated on opposite ends of the spectrum, my daughter being on the higher end making her diagnosis “light Autism” while my son is non-verbal which puts him on the lower end, diagnosed with “moderate to severe Autism”.
Having both their special needs, they also need different services. For example, my daughter needed some physiotherapy but my son benefits from the use of the sensory room at school as he is hypersensitive in several areas.
What does the term “special needs” really mean? Well, it simply means that your child needs special services and material to help him grow and reach his full potential in life. Henry Winkler, the actor known as the Fonz in Happy Days, who gave an amazing presentation as a keynote speaker at the NMSA (National Middle School Association) annual conference held at Minneapolis two years ago, explained his challenges with Dyslexia and the way education and his parents helped him out succeed in life. He also made it clear that his Dyslexia made him a child with special needs. This child has grown up as a successful man and actor cherished by his fans. One of the things that I remember the most is the fact that he thanked both educators and his parents for not giving up on him.
All this made me realize that the role of a parent of a child with ASD is not only to raise him with love and patience but also to provide him with the best services, materials and tools possible to help him live a full and happy life. And one of the multiple roles that a parent has to fill is the role of advocate. It does not matter if your child is verbal or not, if his diagnosis is light, moderate or severe on the spectrum. You have to remember that your child has a disorder that affect his communication skills and makes him unable to fend for himself. But foremost, your child is four going on five years old and sees you as his voice. The person that he can trust will fight for him, his best interests and his rights.
As your child advocate, it is not only your role to fight for your child but also to research the various schools, their services and all the opportunities that are available to your child. Do not enter the meeting room like a bull in a china shop as doors will be closing on you…and your child. Don’t be shy! Ask questions; investigate the various services that can be offered to your child. Meet with various school administrators, school divisions and the people responsible for the special needs programs.
For instance, in several schools where I taught, the following services which are provided in my son’s school were never an option there. Such services are: Music Therapy, occupational therapy activities including: bowling, skating and swimming, sensory room, physiotherapy equipment such as a swinging beam, a modified bike, a weighted vest, a special chair, a pressure vest, the use of PECS (Pictures Exchange Communication System), the participation to Special Olympics activities and more.
Another tip that I can give you is to set up a meeting with the administrator of your school prior to the first day of school. Share with them your child’s habits, needs and explain to them how to deal with their frustrations, hypersensitivities issues, needs, routines and more. Introduce your child to them. At the IEP meeting, ask them for the creation of a social story book to introduce your child to his new surroundings by looking at various pictures in advance: future teacher(s), classroom, gym, teacher aid, music room, sensory room, secretary, administrators, etc. You will see the level of anxiety diminishing in both your child and you.
Let your love for your child guide you. Be your child’s advocate and his voice.
By: Sylvie Leochko
Special Needs Children’s Education
November 17th, 2009
It’s almost as though homeschooling was invented for a special needs children’s education. Kids afflicted with ADHD, autism, dyslexia or Asperger’s among other learning difficulties can all benefit from being taught at home by their parents. Some public school systems can afford to hire trained therapists for these fields, but the extra attention and time afforded a student at home by a loved one can make a big difference in a child’s ability to learn. It’s just natural for a parent to be able to teach their own child more effectively. They’ve been doing it for the student’s whole life and know how to best approach new things with them. They will likely be more patient than a public school teacher and offer the extra time it might take to learn. A classroom would likely not be as able to offer the one-on-one time it might take until a student “gets it”.
It’s likely a parent would also know better than a public school instructor what manner of teaching would best suit their child. Some learn better with visual aids, some by repetition and some by seeing it done for them and copying what they’re taught. It’s very likely a parent would already know this from their own experience. They’ll also know what to look for when a special needs child is getting frustrated and ready to act up or quit, thereby avoiding a bad learning experience for the child.
If you’re wondering what sort of curriculum would best suit your special needs children’s education, there are several avenues to get started.
We would first look on the Internet. Non-profit groups who support your child’s disorder will likely have a presence there and should have good information about learning difficulties and how to overcome them. They will likely make suggestions or direct you to other good sources. They may even list case studies of various methods of learning and their success rates.
We would also try to find support groups on the Internet for your particular disease. There will likely be several forums on the Web where you can read others’ posts and ask questions directly. Parents on these websites are often very willing to share their experiences and will offer help when they can. Although your child is an individual, often there can be common practices that will help almost all children suffering from a common ailment.
There are also many books available about homeschooling your special needs children. Some are written specifically for particular disorders and offer teaching suggestions as well as curriculum selection guides. Most are written by people who have been homeschooling their own special needs children, so they speak with experience and write in every day language, rather than from theory with medical-babble-speak.
If you start with these suggestions, you should quickly be on the road to solving how to best get your special needs children educated. It can be as rewarding for you as it will be for your child since you will have contributed directly to his education and well-being.
By: A J Adams
