Every September and then again in January we request a progress assessment from our therapists. The speech language pathologists, occupational therapists, physical therapists and behavioral consultant have all been busy with our children determining their current levels. Having these assessments, aids us in setting goals for the next months. We are determining if the therapies and therapists are effective, what we should focus on and/or if we would get more benefit elsewhere.
We also take a serious look at their educational needs. September is a great time for setting academic and/or life skill goals for the year, choosing curriculum's and methods to suit everyone's abilities. As a homeschooling family of multiple children with special needs we have the benefit of educational assistants that support our children. We have been busy training our educational assistants so they can support our children in meeting this years goals.
After all the assessments are complete and our educational assistants have had sometime to get to know the children and their needs we plan a team meeting/IEP (individual education plan) meeting. For this team meeting we invite all the therapist and teaching staff, we want everyone on the same page working with the children so they can have the most productive year possible. Working our way through the family discussing everyone's needs, brainstorming ideas and making an action plan for school, therapies and any extra curricular activities that may benefit each child (on top of the extra curricular activities that meet their interests).
What a good example of proactive special needs parenting. Thanks for adding your ideas to the DifferentDream.com Tuesday special needs link up.
ReplyDeleteThat's what true love and parenting is. Bringing the best out of kids and watching wonder of them surpass our exceptions.
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