IPRCs and IEPs

Helping Your Child While Waiting for an Identification | How to Get Special Education Help for Your Child | Understanding the IPRC and IEP Process

Helping Your Child While Waiting for an Identification

The First Step: Identification

It is usually parents who first realize that their child learns differently. Trust your instincts. Consult your pediatrician or family doctor to rule out other more obvious problems such as difficulties with hearing or vision. Then seek an assessment for learning disabilities.

Assessments can be done through your child's school, at a hospital or privately. Learning disabilities are diagnosed fully and accurately by a registered psychologist or psychological associate. A good assessment is the first step toward getting help. After the assessment is done, meet with the assessor to ensure that you understand your child's strengths as well as the weaknesses that underlie the difficulties in school.

Working with Your Child's School

Even while you wait for your child's assessment, there is much that can be done. Talk to your child's teacher, who may have valuable insights into your child's strengths and learning needs. In turn, you can share your understanding of your child and his or her needs with the teacher.

A caring and knowledgeable teacher and an informed parent can do a great deal to begin helping the child with learning disabilities. Coordinating strategies at school and home will really benefit your child.

It is never too late to help a child with learning disabilities -- but early identification and intervention can prevent later behavioral and social difficulties. If you are concerned about your child, get help now.

Helping Your Child at Home

It is important to remember that you are your child's parent and not her teacher. Therefore, your support should focus on encouragement and ability, rather than difficulties and problems.

Children with learning disabilities benefit from having the right environment at home as well as at school.

Your child may need:

• a quiet area and a quiet time to focus on school work
• consistent discipline
• regular patterns
• the opportunity to practice new skills in a non-academic way, eg, sorting laundry, baking cookies, etc
• positive encouragement from you and other family members
• a safe environment in which to practice social skills
• an opportunity for role-playing to prepare for new activities

 Talk to Your Child about Learning Disabilities

Children with learning disabilities must be reassured that they are not lazy or dumb. They are intelligent people who have trouble learning because their minds process words or information differently. Be informed about learning disabilities so that you can explain them to your child. Be honest and optimistic: explain to your child that they may struggle with learning but that they can learn. Tell them that you are confident that with effort and the right help, they will be able to meet the challenge and succeed.

 Organize Information about Your Child's Learning Disability

•  start a folder of all letters and materials related to your child's education
• add copies of school files and names and dates of all tests and results, including medical exams and information from other professionals
• collect samples of schoolwork that demonstrate your child's difficulties, as well as strengths
• keep a contact log of discussions with professionals and keep a log of your own observations

This information will help you to monitor your child's progress. Review it with other professionals as your child grows.  You are welcome to contact LDAS for information and support.

Reprinted from: http://ldao.ca/about_ld/articles/education/naiforp.html