By Elaine Robinson
Does your child need a Individualized Education Plan (IEP)?
If your child is struggling in school and you think his or her needs might require and Individualized Education Plan, start with you child’s physician. Has your child had a physical within the past year? Make an appointment with your child’s physician to get you on track concerning your child’s health status as well as any learning-related conditions that might be a barrier to your child’s academic success.
Several categories of special education service require information and documentation from your child’s physician, so this initial doctor visit is a good place to start.
Once your child has had an up-to-date physical and you have talked with the doctor, move forward with these steps:
1)Schedule a conference with your child’s teacher(s). A face-to-face conference is better than a telephone or email conference, but one way or another, you need this conference to discuss your concerns and to know what they have observed in the school setting.
2) Contact the school guidance counselor, an important ally once you have made initial contact with the teacher(s). Continue Reading
