TMK Consulting, LLC

Do you have a special needs child? Are you confused by the identification process? Are you frustrated with the school system? TMK Consulting LLC is here to help you advocate for what is in your child's best interest. We will review your child's IEP with you. We will attend meetings to make sure your child is getting what is in his or her best interest. We also do independent educational assessments and tutoring in many areas!

Tuesday, September 11, 2012


 
 

 

Sweet and Happy New Year for All– September 23

A Rosh Hashana Service for Families with Special Needs 

 

WOODBRIDGE, CT –Celebrate Rosh Hashana in the sweetest way….at a specially designed service for families with special needs on Sunday, September 23 from 1 p.m. – 2 p.m. at Congregation B’nai Jacob, 75 Rimmon Road, Woodbridge , CT.

 

All families are welcome for a warm, inviting, musical and interactive experience! The service is designed to be accessible and sensitive to a variety of needs. We look forward to sharing prayer, Torah, music, and sweetness as we welcome in the New Year together. This service is open to the entire community (members and non-members) and all ages are welcome.

 

The special service is jointly sponsored by TMK Consulting LLC, Congregation B'nai Jacob and the Center for Jewish Life & Learning.

 

WHAT:            Service for Families with Special Needs

 

WHEN:                        Sunday, September 23, 2012

                        1 p.m. – 2 p.m.          

 

WHERE:           Congregation B’nai Jacob

                        75 Rimmon Road

                        Woodbridge, CT 06525

 
To RSVP for the service, email Laura at cbj.laura@gmail.com
 

Wednesday, August 29, 2012





 
By Special Education Advisor
School Wide Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports consists of four elements, “(a) data for decision making, (b) measurable outcomes supported and evaluated by data, (c) practices with evidence that these outcomes are achievable, and (d) systems that efficiently and effectively support implementation of these practices.

http://www.specialeducationadvisor.com/positive-behavior-interventions-and-supports/


Tuesday, May 15, 2012

TOP TEN QUESTIONS TO ASK AT OUR CHILDS IEP MEETING

If your child has an IEP, the following top ten list is comprised of generic questions that all parents should be asking. This list is not specific to any disability or situation.

10. How has the School updated the present levels of performance? The Present Levels of Performance (PLOPs) are crucial to writing a successful IEP. Since many IEP Teams only perform assessments every 3 years, for the triennial IEP, it’s important to understand how this section is being updated. “This section forms the basis and justification for all goals and objectives. In turn, the goals and objectives form the basis for all services and placements.” (Brannigan and Margolis, IEP Goals and Objectives are these any good)

9. Has there been a goal written for all of my child’s needs? If not, why? As mentioned above, goals form the basis for all services and placement. For this reason there should be a written goal for every one of your child’s needs. The list of goals in the IEP help you obtain the services your child needs to be successful. It will be impossible to negotiate for a specific service if that service doesn’t help your child reach one of their goals.

8. How is the School collecting data to measure progress on goals? IDEA states that the IEP must have, “a description of how the child’s progress toward meeting the annual goals described in subclause (II) will be measured and when periodic reports on the progress the child is making toward meeting the annual goals (such as through the use of quarterly or other periodic reports, concurrent with the issuance of report cards) will be provided.” Since all goals need to be measurable, parents need to understand how the data will be collected to measure progress on the goals.

7. What research-based instruction will the School be using to teach my child? IDEA of 2004 added language that the School must use research-based instruction based on “Peer-reviewed research.” Peer-reviewed research is a process by which one’s colleagues assess the quality and accuracy of one’s research papers. Peer review is most frequently employed within academia, where professors evaluate each others’ work before it is published in major research journals.


6. Can I get a copy of my child’s service logs? When your child is seen by a Service Provider (Speech Therapist, Occupational Therapist, Physical Therapist, etc), they need to document each session and provide notes on what was worked on during that session. This might be known as a Service Log or Service Notes. Asking for copies of these logs will help you determine, 1) if any sessions have been missed, and 2) what was being worked on during these sessions.


5. When and where will my child’s services take place? There are many locations that a child’s services might take place. These could include the classroom, a resource room, an intervention room or elsewhere. The IEP should specify the location of the services and at a minimum should state whether the services are push-in where the service provider comes into the classroom or pull-out where the service provider takes the child from the classroom. Also, when the child will receive these services is important. For example, if your child is struggling in math he/she should not be pulled out of class for speech during classroom math instruction.


4. What percentage of the day will my child be removed from the general education setting? The IEP needs to find the proper balance between providing an appropriate education and keeping your child with their non-disabled peers to the maximum extent possible. This should be part of the discussion when determining your child’s placement.

3. How and why have the accommodations in my child’s IEP been chosen? Accommodations help provide access to the curriculum, but should not be included if they are unrelated to the student learning needs. The IEP Team should make accommodation decisions based on the child’s individualized needs and include those accommodations that reduce the effect of the disability to access the curriculum.

2. Is my child on a graduation track or are they working on a modified curriculum? Modifications actually lower learning expectations and should only be used if this is the only way for the child to be successful. Parents must understand if modifications to grade level standards are being made their child may be at risk for not meeting graduation requirements.


1. Can you please explain that again? The IEP Team members conducting the assessments must be professionally trained and competent. They also need to be able to explain the test results in language the parents can understand. If you don’t understand what the team members are saying, it is their responsibility to figure out how to explain it in clear and easy to understand language. Do not let them off the hook; if you don’t understand ask them to explain it again in layman terms. Your child’s IEP is a legally binding contract with the School District, so you should have a full understanding of what you are signing!!!

Ten questions to ask at your childs IEP meeting

http://www.specialeducationadvisor.com/top-ten-questions-to-ask-at-an-iep

Monday, April 2, 2012

What a great opportunity

FREE EDUCATIONAL ASSESSMENTS
http://campaign.r20.constantcontact.com/render?

Summer is around the corner

Click to Learn about summer opportunities for your child
http://www.spedchildmass.com/camps___camp_fairs

Monday, January 9, 2012

A Great Resource

Check this out!
http://www.specialeducationadvisor.com/special-education-facebook-pages-to-like/

Another Great Event!!!!!!!

Sponsored by:
Special Education PTO (SEPTO Network), a parent advocacy group

WHO: Tiffany Katz, Special Education Teacher/Advocate; Amy Vatner, Special Education Attorney; Jacqueline D. Jewett, MS Ed

WHERE: Margaret Egan Center, Matthews Street, Milford

DATE: Wednesday, January 25th, 2011

TIME: 7:00 p.m.

Does your child have a disability? Then come and learn about how to be an effective advocate for your child, best practices and available services. Also, you will gain insight into your child’s legal and educational rights with three experts from the field of special education advocacy. Ms. Katz is a special education teacher who has worked in resource rooms and self contained classrooms. She earned her BA from the U of Colorado with a concentration in communication. She has many years of administering standardized academic assessments, writing IEP’s and running PPT meetings. She currently works with the parents of children with special needs teaching them how to effectively advocate for their children. Ms. Vatner, works as an advocate with the CT Association of Children and Adults with LD’s. She has also worked as a Special Education Attorney for the CT Parent Advocacy Center and CT Legal Services, Inc. She is a graduate of Harvard University & Northwestern University School of Law. Ms. Jewett established her private practice, Academic Edge, LLC, in 1991. As an Educational Consultant she has made a significant difference in the lives of many children & adults in the Greater New Haven areas. She earned her BA from St. Lawrence University and her MS with a concentration in Special Education from SUNY, Albany. Her post grad studies in education leadership include programs from the Center for Montessori Teacher Education, School of Management at the College of New Rochelle and from Quinnipiac U. She is currently the Regional Director for Partnership Programs for Renaissance School Services.
For more information please visit our website, www.septanetwork.org and/or call Susan St. Pierre, President at 203-640-8017 or email susan.stpierre@snet.net. Refreshments will be served.

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