Another Back to School Tip: Have the Teachers Get To Know Your Special Needs Child Before School Even Starts. Here’s How:
- Write up an “Introduction to ____” (insert your child’s name here). Limit it to one page, no longer, or the teacher may not read it. This one page introduction should give the teacher a sense of your child as a whole child. The objective is to paint a picture of the “real” kid, not just “the kid with the disability.”
- Start off by describing the positives about your child. That could include a description of your child’s hobbies, interests, social and academic strengths, his sense of humor and his warm smile.
- Follow the list of strengths with a list of your child’s symptoms or areas of weakness. Give brief examples if necessary. After you list his struggles, follow up with a list of the strategies that have worked as well as the ones that haven’t worked in the past. There is no need for the teacher to re-invent the wheel.
- Make sure to include a nice photo of your child on the page, so the teacher knows who he is the first time he walks into the classroom. Put this all on a brightly colored piece of paper, and laminate it or put it in a clear plastic sleeve.
- Ask the teacher to make this page available in advance to any substitute teacher the class may have. If her absence is unplanned, request that the teacher leave it in an easily accessible place so the substitute teacher can find it.
- After the first few weeks of school, meet with the teacher and ideally the entire school team to review that page with them in person, get their feedback, and brainstorm and record new strategies if needed. Bring one or two short articles that accurately describe your child’s disability and how it may impact him at school. Highlight the sentences in the articles that really seem to describe your child. Don’t give them stacks of articles or books to read. The teacher and the team will be more likely to read a brief, highlighted article.
- It’s always nice to bring cookies to that meeting!
- Give a copy of this one-page introduction to the school psychologist, the lunch and recess aides, and the bus driver, too.
Dr. Helene Walisever, PhD
Helene Walisever, PhD, is a licensed Clinical Psychologist and Education Advocate. She is a nationally recognized Tourette Syndrom Education Specialist. Dr. Walisever received the 2012 Distinguished Educator Award from the National Tourette Syndrome Association for her work educating parents and schools to support children with Tourette Syndrome. She believes that educators and parents can develop strong partnerships to create programs to meet children’s particular learning needs. Dr. Walisever offers training and support to school personnel and families in collaborative consultation. She offers a realistic view of challenging situations and provides a constructive environment to achieve meaningful results. Solutions are sought with fairness and compassion.
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