You've purchased backpacks and planners, notebooks and highlighters. Everything is in place for your child to transition from elementary school to middle school. But have you taken a look at your child's IEP?
For kids with special needs who are primarily mainstreamed, an IEP, or individualized education plan, can be a lifeline, allowing them access to special programs and accommodations that make it possible for them to get through the school day. Kids who have an IEP in elementary school will bring it with them to middle school, but changes will have to be made.
Elementary School vs. Middle School
Middle school is a very different beast than elementary school, particularly for kids with special needs. Many of us remember middle school as a difficult period in our lives, but imagine how many aspects of it are particularly challenging for kids with special needs:
- Your child will be transitioning between classes and getting to class on time.
- Different teachers with different teaching styles will require getting used to.
- Kids are expected to take notes and keep track of homework assignments for several different classes.
- The option to take electives, like shop, home economics, or music will be made available.
- Locker combinations must be remembered.
- Changes of clothing must be packed for P.E.
And that doesn't even include the much higher level of academic achievement expected in middle school.
What to Look for in a Middle School IEP
You can request an IEP meeting at any time. Contact the school district and see about convening the special education team as soon as possible, before school starts if you can. The accommodations needed vary from child to child, but some common ones to consider include:
- Extra time during passing periods.
- Early dismissal from class for passing, especially for kids with sensitivity issues. All the noise can be very upsetting for these kids.
- A quick daily check-in with the school counselor to review your child's goals and get ready for the day.
- Notes prepared for the student and handed out by the teacher.
- A listing of homework assignments prepared by the teacher and given to the student.
- The use of recording devices to record lectures for later review by the student.
- Allowing the use of calculators in math class.
- Allowing work to be done on a computer, instead of writing it out by hand.
The Special Case of Electives
Electives present a special challenge when preparing a middle school student's IEP. How you handle it will be between you and the special education team, since every student's needs vary. Will your child find a music class calming or overstimulating? Will shop class provide opportunities to learn a valuable skill or opportunities to engage in destructive or dangerous behavior? These questions can only be answered by you and the people who know your child best.
However, if you feel decisions are being made that are not in your child's best interest, speak up. You have a say in the matter too, and don't let the people representing the school district tell you otherwise. Nobody knows your child better than you. You are your child's number one advocate.
If you are concerned that your child is not getting the help and accommodations needed, contact an advocacy service. Some will charge, while others are non-profit and will work pro bono. Your child's counselor or therapist should be able to provide a list of advocacy services in your area, or you can use a search engine, entering in "child advocacy" and your city or town.
Amelia Ramstead - Amelia hopes that her experiences as a mother prove helpful to others as she shares what she has learned.
