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Preparation is crucial. Preparation or the lack of preparation before school begins can make or break the entire year. Part of getting your child ready for school is also getting the school ready for your child. Here are a few top tips for making this transition as smooth as possible.
OPEN THE LINES OF COMMUNICATION. Reach out and introduce yourself, your child, and your circumstances to your child's new teachers and administrators.
BRING CURRENT EVALUATIONS, UPDATES, & INFORMATION. Be sure that all documentation and evaluations on your child's school records are current and up to date.
PLAN OUTLETS FOR DE-STRESSING. Research shows parents of children under an IEP is mentally and physically taxing. The brain is busy firing and making necessary new connections in different ways while balancing their home and or careers. Consider finding ways to relax and relieve stress. It's not just a good idea, it is crucial to a positive beginning to the school year and should be maintained.
BUILD YOUR TECHNOLOGY TOOLBOX. Consider all the technology that exists and think about incorporating those tools into your child’s learning repertoire. Many helpful reading, and speech-to-text tools help enhance and improve the learning process. Think about all the apps, software, smart pens, and more that might be helpful. Just remember that every child learns differently.
Once you have identified some options that work for you and fit your budget, consider playing with those or practice in advance of the beginning of school. You want the use of helpful technology to come naturally by the time the first day rolls around.
Hint: You might also consider suggesting that the school system incorporate technology like screen readers, speech to text, and books in audio format for all students. Learning Ally is a powerful resource when it comes to making school readings accessible. Be positive!
INSTILL CONFIDENCE. Remember that new opportunities await! Encourage your child to enjoy all things “back-to-school” - like shopping, new backpacks or school clothes, the pencils, pens, shoes, haircuts, new friends, new teachers and more. It should be an exciting and fun time, with more emphasis placed on the experience and less on the label. Remind your child that school can be fun and do your best as a parent to help them believe it will be. Every new school year offers a fresh start, and kids will often follow your cues! Be confident, mom or dad! Be positive!
Check out the training from our state chapter - The Arc of TN.
The Arc@School Toolkit
Self-determination allows people to make choices and decisions to improve their quality of life. The Arc has designed a free toolkit to offer steps on how you can support your child to be a more active participant in the choices they make in life, especially through the individualized education plan (IEP). This toolkit will provide guidance on working with your child in the three phases of self-determination. Email specialeducation@thearctn.org to receive a free toolkit in Spanish or English.
The Family Engagement team is preparing their back-to-school special education training. This is a great way to get plugged into the special education community and learn how to best advocate for your child. If you're looking to be a better advocate on special education issues, we highly recommend The Arc@School training on August 1st. This course is intended to help parents advocate for their child while including the child so that the course forward is one the child is invested in and excited by.
Click here to sign up for this free training.
PLAN FOR A SUCCESSFUL YEAR
Remember, those who fail to plan…plan to fail.
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