The school year is about to start and I know you are already feeling stress about sending your child back to school. You wonder if the teacher will be helpful and supportive, or mean and a problem. Until you know, you will have to focus on deep breaths and hope for the best.
What I have found super helpful about starting the school year is to make an information sheet about your child’s disability.
This Disability Info Sheet should contain:
- A general idea of what the defines the disability.
- Specific information on how the disability manifests in your child.
- Suggestions you have about how best to interact with the child.
- Review of accommodations and services your child has (since you know they probably didn’t read the 504 or IEP).
- Any other suggestions you may want to convey to the teacher.
Once complete, you should deliver the sheet on the first or 2nd day of school. If your child is in middle or high school, you’ll probably want to email the sheet to each teacher individually, along with a note explaining about it. CC the Case Manager so he/she is aware that you have sent it. You might even send a copy to the Case Manager letting them know you are sending this to the teachers.
I have created a sample Disability Info Sheet for auditory processing disorder. It’s in Microsoft Word, so when you download it you can edit the information with your child’s disability and other details. I hope it is helpful!
