50 Ways to Support Your Child's Special Education: From IEPs to Assorted Therapies, an Empowering Guide to Taking Action, Every Day by Terri Mauro

Introduction vii

1 Give Your Child a Calm Start to the Day 2

2 Make Sure Your Child Gets Enough Sleep 6

3 Go Through Your Child's Book Bag Daily 10

4 Memorize Your Child's Schedule 14

5 Ask Your Child Three Questions Every Day 18

6 Eavesdrop on Your Child's Play Time 22

7 Make Sure the Teacher Has All Your Contact Information 26

8 Correspond with Your Child's Teacher 30

9 Meet with Your Child's Teacher 34

10 Keep a Contact Log 38

11 Support the Teacher at Home 42

12 Support the Teacher in Public 46

13 Address Problems Promptly and Positively 50

14 Make Sure the Assignments Make It Home 54

15 Learn to Love Homework 58

16 Help with Homework, but Don't Do All the Work 62

17 Make Sure the Homework Gets Delivered 66

18 Share What Works and What Doesn't 70

19 Keep a Record of What Your Child Is Working On 74

20 Volunteer in the Classroom 78

21 Volunteer in the School 82

22 Go to Parent Organization Meetings 86

23 Help Your Child Join a Club 90

24 Attend School Activities with Your Child 94

25 Know Your Child's Therapy Schedule 98

26 Sit In on a Therapy Session 102

27 Send In a Communication Notebook for Therapists 106

28 Talk with Your Child about Therapy 110

29 Know What the Therapy Is Supposed to Accomplish 114

30 Ask the Therapists about Issues at Home 118

31 Offer to Provide Needed Therapy or Educational Materials 122

32 Request Suggestions for Continuing Therapy at Home 126

33 Know Your Child's Bus Route and Companions 130

34 Look for Bus-Related School Problems 134

35 Look for Lunch-Related School Problems 138

36 Know What Your Child Is Doing at Recess 142

37 Check In with Your Child's Physical-Education Teacher146

38 Learn How to Write a Good Letter 150

39 Stay Involved with Goings-On in Your School District 154

40 Learn about Local Advocacy Groups 158

41 Join an E-Mail Group for Special-Needs Parents 162

42 Prepare a Packet on Your Child's Special Needs 166

43 Write a Positive Student Profile on Your Child 170

44 Read Your Child's IEP 174

45 Meet with Your Planning Team Outside of IEP Season 178

46 Be Clear about Your Own Goals for Your Child 182

47 Make Peace with the Need for Help 186

48 Make Peace with the Need for Advocacy 190

49 Set Some Goals for Yourself 194

50 Enjoy Your Child's School Days 198

Appendix A Recommended Reading on Disabilities 203

Appendix B Good Books on IEP Planning and Advocacy 207

Appendix C Where to Buy Therapy Equipment 209

Index 211