FURTHER RESOURCES

Works Cited:

"Eat Smart Ior a Great Start Newsletter." PBS. PBS,
n.d. Web. 13 Nov. 2012. http://www.pbs.org/
parents/education/learning"disabilities/supporting"
your"child/creating"good"practices/~.

"Tool Kits." Autism Speaks. N.p., n.d. Web. 13
Nov. 2012. http://www.autismspeaks.org/Iamily"
services/tool"kits~.

"Your Child's Rights." National Center for Learn-
ing Disabilities. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Nov. 2012.
http://www.ncld.org/parents"child"disabilities/ld"
rights~.

"Parent Guide To IDEA." Parents Guide to IDEA.
N.p., n.d. Web. 13 Nov. 2012. http://
www.ncld.org/parents"child"disabilities/idea"
guide~.

For More InIormation Visit:

www.ldaamerica.us/aboutld/parents/help/
helping.asp
www.copaa.org
www.wrightslaw.com
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COLLABORATING WI TH
TEACHERS

As the parent of a child with a learning
disabilitv, vou will undoubtedlv encounter
manv frustrations along the wav. Collabo-
rating closelv with vour childs teachers
can help to ease the emotional stress.
Working together and communicating with
teachers is a great wav to improve vour
childs learning environment.

Keep up to date on observations
" Where has your child succeeded and
struggled?
" What are your child`s strengths and inter-
ests?
" Do either you or the teacher have worries
and concerns about the child?

Discuss the instructional program

" Can any oI these observations be used to
better teach the child?
" What works well? What doesn`t?
" Suggest diIIerent approaches, such as in-
dividualized attention and extra time.

Discuss ways to help your child cope

" Children with learning disabilities oIten
become Irustrated with themselves. Figure
out strategies that work well at home and in
the classroom to help your child Ieel com-
Iortable and conIident.
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The Iollowing timeline shows the order oI events in creating an Individualized Education
Program (IEP) Ior your child:
1. Request Evaluation to Determine
Eligibility: This is a request in writing
Ior your child to be evaluated to deter-
mine iI he is eligible Ior special educa-
tion and related services.

2. Prepare for Evaluation:
Gather Ieedback Irom your child`s
teacher and pediatrician.

3. The Evaluation
Testing must be completed within
60 days oI your request.
You will be given an explanation
oI the tests and your child`s results.
The evaluation will end with a con-
clusion regarding your child`s eli-
gibility Ior special education.
II you disagree with the conclusion,
you may request an 'individual
evaluation at the school district`s
expense.
4. Prepare for Initial IEP Meeting
Research programs and services relevant to
your child`s needs.

5. Initial IEP Meeting
Bring your child`s medical and school rec-
ords.
Bring your research and all written materials
you have received Irom the school district.
Make sure to voice any concerns you may
have.
The meeting should result in a written plan,
which you and the school district will both
sign. Do not Ieel pressured to immediately
sign the plan" you have time to review it and
suggest changes.

6. Review and Modify the IEP
II the school rejects your changes, send a let-
ter to the special education administrator ex-
plaining your revisions.
II you reject the plan, send a letter to the
school and the school district explaining why.
7. Monitor IEP
Track your child`s progress and
keep in contact with his teacher.
At any time, you and the school
district can agree in writing to
make changes to your child`s IEP.


8. Annual IEP Meeting/Update
There must be a meeting at least
once a year to update your child`s
IEP.

9. Periodic Re"evaluation
You have the right to request your
child be re"evaluated once a year.

II you choose to dispute the proposed
IEP, your legal options will depend on
State, Local and Federal laws.