Submitted by: René Tomey, M.A., BCBA

Have you ever attended an Individualized Education Program (IEP) meeting? Or maybe you are the parent of a young child preparing for your first IEP meeting, and you’re wondering what to expect? As a former special education teacher, I have a unique perspective on IEP meetings, and have attended these meetings as both a public school teacher and a private provider. In this post, I’d like to share with you some tips and suggestions for making the most out of your child’s IEP meeting.

Let’s begin by explaining what exactly the IEP is. An IEP is a document developed for every child attending public school that requires special education services. IEPs are developed to ensure that any child with a disability as defined by law receives the services, accommodations, and/or modifications that he or she may need to access the curriculum. When a child first enters public education, a team of professionals, such as a teacher, psychologist, counselor, speech pathologist, occupational therapist, and so on, comes together to develop an IEP based on that child’s individual needs. Every year, the child’s current team will reconvene to update the IEP and set new goals and objectives.

When it comes time for your child’s IEP meeting there are many things you can do before, during, and after the meeting to ensure that your child is receiving the appropriate services to meet his/her needs.

Before the meeting, you can…

• Ask what type of IEP meeting it is! Is this the annual update, a meeting to request permission for testing, a meeting to discuss extended school year services, or an addendum to the current IEP?
• Talk to your child’s teachers, therapists, and any others that play a role in his/her day-to-day education. Ask for a draft copy of the proposed services and goals so you can review them before the meeting and prevent surprises.
• If applicable, review previous IEPs and progress reports so you know what has already been mastered and where your child should be performing.
• Write down any thoughts and questions you may have.
• Let the team know if you will be attending the meeting. By law, you are required to receive 7-10 days notice prior to a scheduled meeting.
• If you have a trusted friend, relative, outside provider, etc. ask him/her to accompany you to the meeting to help paint a complete picture of your child.

During the meeting, you can…

• Participate and collaborate – you are a part of the team, too!
• Be prepared to hear about both successes and challenges, as well as areas for improvement.
• Ask questions! If you don’t understand an acronym or term that is used, ask for clarification. If you don’t know why a specific goal has been chosen, ask about that, too.
• Stay calm and courteous, and try to understand everyone’s point of view. If skills are not educationally relevant (meaning they are not applicable and/or functional within the school setting), then teachers and therapists may not be allowed to address them.
• Know that there is no time limit. If you are not ready for the meeting to end or comfortable with what is being presented, do not feel rushed.

After the meeting, you can…

• Ask for a follow up meeting if you need more time to review documentation or process what is being presented. Hopefully, if you received a draft of the IEP before the meeting, this won’t be necessary. However, you don’t have to sign the IEP that day if you are uneasy.
• Keep a copy of the final IEP somewhere safe.
• Continue to build and maintain a relationship with your child’s teachers and therapists.

Hopefully this information helps give you a better idea of how the IEP process works and what you can reasonably expect from your child’s educational team. Remember, you can always ask us for help and support if you need it!

The post Making the Most out of Your Child’s IEP Meeting appeared first on Reaching Milestones.

Submitted by: Lauren Green, BCBA

Receiving a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is imaginably difficult. As a parent, answers are what we seek. What additional supports are there for my child and how do I go about knowing what sources of information to trust?

I have social media and I see articles, blogs, and posts from friends that show so many things that help their children with Autism. I have seen essential oils, diets, weighted vests and blankets, therapies that I have never heard of, but claim to cure Autism. I am desperate to see changes and to help my child. How do I determine if these things will really help?

If you have ever felt this way, please know you are not alone. Thankfully, there are some really great resources for parents of person’s with Autism Spectrum Disorder. These resources will help you determine what research has been conducted for the treatments you read about online as well as what treatments are proven to be effective in reducing the symptoms associated with ASD.

One resource that is particularly helpful in aiding parents in determining effectiveness of treatment is the National Standards Report by the National Autism Center. The report takes a look at all treatments that have had any research completed and categorizes the treatments into the following areas: Established Treatments (there is substantial research producing positive outcomes for the treatments listed), Emerging Treatments (there is some research showing positive outcomes, but more research is needed before determining if the treatments are effective treatments), Unestablished Treatments (there is little to no research done on these treatments to draw conclusions on their effectiveness or ineffectiveness), and Ineffective/Harmful Treatments (there are several well-controlled studies that show there is no positive effect from the treatment or the treatment produces harmful outcomes). Below is a link to the National Standards Report:

http://www.autismdiagnostics.com/assets/Resources/NSP2.pdf

Another resource for parents and families is the Association for Science in Autism Treatment (ASAT). Their website is user friendly and allows parents to access information regarding effective treatments for their children. The website features a section regarding treatments, but also a section dedicated to parents who are navigating life with a child with ASD. Please visit the ASAT online at the link below:

http://www.asatonline.org/for-parents/

As you seek out help for your child, remember that you aren’t alone in your questions. You aren’t alone in your desires to see your child progress. You aren’t alone in wondering where to begin searching for answers. As you search, we hope you consider the use of resources listed above as guidance for choosing effective treatments.

The post So Many Cures, Which One Should I Try for My Child? appeared first on Reaching Milestones.

By: Ashley Hart
If you are a parent of a child with Autism, you probably have a vivid memory of the day your child was diagnosed. Your stories are all different and unique in some way, as are your children. You possibly felt emotions that you still cannot quite explain. You probably had a ton of questions and weren’t sure who or what to ask. Many parents often ask questions that I, as a clinician, cannot give them a direct answer to, nor am I able to. But – what I can do, and want to do – is provide them with resources to get their questions heard and answered.

1. Where can I find support?

Some of the parents that I have encountered, unfortunately do not have a strong support system near them. This could be due to being a military family traveling a lot, background/cultural views, or simple unfamiliarity with what it means to have a child with autism. However, there are plenty of resources out there and we want to make you aware of them!

• Parent Coaching for Autism: Parents of both newly diagnosed children and those who were diagnosed years ago can benefit from this site, sharing ideas, e-courses, and newsletters.
• Autism Blogs Directory: Blogs that are written by families with autism.
• Autism in Action: A how-to guide to aid with teaching your child to do things like basic self-care to better communication.
• Autism Calendar: Upcoming events in your local community related to autism awareness.
• AutismNOW: The latest news, research and information.
• MyAutismTeam: A social network for parents and kids with autism.
• Care.com: A great place to find a caregiver for your child (Tricare will pay for respite care).
• Dads 4 Special Kids: Dads unite and share stories and support.
• Autism…Learn: This site allows people, including children with autism to complete online activities geared toward helping them develop vital skills.
• Autism on the Seas: This site is dedicated to helping parents of children with autism map out their getaways, whether they are a cruise or camping trip.
• Atypical Child: Functions almost like a Craigslist for parents of special needs children. You can list and buy gently used therapy equipment.
• Bloom and Grow: This site shares products, strategies, and tips for how to help your loved one with the great demands that are put on them each day.
• Make Friends with Autism: Encouraging families to reach out to others with ASD.

2. What does this even mean?

As a behavior analyst or therapist, sometimes we use confusing jargon or acronyms that not even our significant others know what we are talking about! Parents may not have the time or energy to try and decipher what we are saying! Go to www.makefriendswithautism.org and www.Iloveaba.com . There is a fantastic list of terms that taught me a thing or two!

3. I have never even heard of ABA! Why should I trust you?

Applied behavior analysis (ABA) is the science of applying learning principles to change behavior. We collect data, analyze it, and make program changes to ensure the success of your child.

Currently, ABA is the ONLY recommended treatment by the Surgeon General for autism spectrum disorders and the American Academy of Pediatrics notes that at least 25 hours of therapy per week, for toddler age children, can significantly improve cognitive and language skills.

We, as clinicians, are here to support you and help your children grow. However, when it comes to things like going out to dinner and dealing with a melt-down, I cannot honestly look at you say, “I get it.” Because I don’t. This is why I wrote this blog, in hope that our parents who have been asking for a support group can find what they are looking for and for those parents with newly diagnosed kiddos to get the answers they might not know they are looking for yet.

This article was written by Ashley Hart, M.S. BCBA with the help of Miss Jacqueline Atkin, RBT.

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