JOIN US FOR THIS GREAT EVENT!!!!!

Please join us for this great event!!!!

Settling Into The New School Year

October is here and by now your child should be settling into the new year.  Here is a parent check list to make sure that your child's IEP is being followed and all services are in place.

1. All school personnel working with your child have read his/her IEP and are familiar with the goals and objectives.

2. A copy of your child's related services schedule.

3 A log book to keep track of when your child actually receives their services.

4.  Request a meeting with all team members at that meeting review
                   a. accommodation and modification pages
                   b. goals and objectives
                   c. related services schedule
                   d. request a meeting a few months later to review progress

5. Remember you are your child's best advocate if you have concerns do not ignore them.

Another Piece of Advice Great Advice from Milford SEPTA

There is another tool parents should require and use: A Daily Communication Book

- This goes home each day.  

In it, the teacher writes brief comments about the day and lessons covered.  

- A great teacher will document on her/his own, if and when the child received their IEP related services.  

Parents should insist that their child's daily journal/log show:

-  If the child received, or did not receive, their required related services for that day.

-  Length of the provided service.

- “Type of service” provided (ie: Individual, Group, Teacher Consult).  

A simple “Yes/No” check-box would suffice as a clue for parents to follow-up.  

Historically, schools deny these IEP services to children by AT LEAST HALF when parents are not watching.

- Schools reap huge savings with such deceptions against children who cannot communicate and thereby tell parents what really happens in school each day.

Good Advice From the Milford SEPTA network

Here is some timely advice I got today that I thought I’d share with you:

During the first week or two of school, the Related Services people (Speech, OT, PT, etc.) set up their schedules.  - They need to be able to meet all the students' IEP's, so it can be difficult for them to fit everyone in appropriately. They usually also have to work around classroom schedules, specials, lunch time, and recess.

If you have not done so already, I suggest writing a note/email to either the classroom teacher or each related service provider, asking which day AND what time they will be seeing your child. 

This will let them know that you are on top of things, and expect your child to receive the agreed upon service.

- It will also allow you to plan if and when you want to go in & observe the work your child does with the people providing services.

Sometimes, schools won't have hired the related service person by the start of the school year.

They do not tell the parents unless they are specifically asked. 

By asking (in writing), you are forcing the school to be honest with you.

- Once you know that they have not hired a service provider, you can have them contract with qualified person outside of the school district until they do.

What a great idea!!!!!!!

ASCONN and Westfield Connecticut Post present

Connecticut's first "sensory friendly" fireworks display

Friday, July 1

Connecticut Post Mall

Milford

Um, how do you make fireworks sensory friendly? 

You show them indoors on a video, that's how!

Join us at center court

Connecticut Post Mall, Milford for a

Red, White and Blue Spectacular

Face painting, arts and crafts, music and much more!

Come meet your favorite mascots - Uncle Sam, Ronald McDonald, Red Robin and "Storm" the Bridgeport Sound Tiger's mascot with his own hockey challenge activity!

Kids under 12, dress up in your red, white and blue-est for the Kid's Parade through the mall's lower level.

Prizes, giveaways and goodie bags!

Activities begin at 6:00 p.m., Friday, July 1

Indoor, "sensory friendly" fireworks at 8:15

Outdoor fireworks at 9:15

For more details go to www.asconn.org or www.westfield.com

Many thanks to Westfield for partnering with ASCONN to bring the event to Connecticut.  All proceeds and donations support ASCONN's services and programs here in Connecticut.

2011 Directory of Summer Camps & Programs for Exceptional Children in Connecticut

2011 Directory of Summer Camps & Programs

for Exceptional Children in Connecticut

http://ctserc.org/s/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=994:2011-directory-of-summer-camps-a-programs&catid=55:bureau-of-special-education-resourcesmer

Check out this site thanks to Douglas Sharafanowich of Milford SEPTA

Check this site out.

Apps for Children with Special Needs

http://a4cwsn.com/

      Gary James has loaded over 300 apps to preview with cost information.

      It's all free to preview.   

      There is a great search engine to search for what you need.

      Gary has plans to load more… he has about 1,000 more to preview - there are so many. 

      It's the hottest site for special needs-related apps, getting over 10,000 hits a day!

Common Mistakes parents make at IEP meetings

Just found this site what a great resource!!!
http://www.kidstogether.org/IEP/iepd-10-mistakes.htm

PPT Checklist

This is a fantastic tool  I found on the state website for every family  to use as they prepare for their child's next PPT.
http://www.sde.ct.gov/sde/lib/sde/PDF/DEPS/Special/Before_PPT.pdf

Area Events

Welcome

Welcome to my blog!!!! This blog is here to help parents of children with special needs. It is filled with important information and links every special needs parent should be aware of. The world of special education can be very daunting and overwhelming.  I have created this blog to help parents gain a better understanding of how the special education process works and how to navigate their way through it.