It is alarming to feel that your child is no longer making progress and may even be losing skills, but it will benefit him if you recognize this early and intervene.
Speak with his teachers about your concerns and share any samples of his work that reflect these concerns. Together, you can decide which step should be taken next. If you and his teachers feel that the level and amount of services and accommodations your child is receiving need to be revisited, then an IEP meeting should be convened.
You may also consider asking that the concerns you have about your child’s academic progress be discussed at the school’s next local screening meeting. At this meeting, you and the other members of the local screening committee will decide if further evaluation for your child is warranted.
At both meetings, it is important to discuss the possible reasons for your child’s current struggles in helping to determine the next course of action. For example, perhaps your child was able to compensate for his disability before, but now that he is getting older and the schoolwork is getting more challenging, his ability to compensate is being strained and the achievement gap between your child and his peers is widening. His apparent regression may also be signs of stress from knowing that he is falling further behind. It is imperative that the emotional component of your child’s educational experience be addressed.
The following articles may give you some ideas of ways to make the most of these meetings and include information about your rights as a parent throughout the special education process:
- Advocacy in Action: You Can Advocate for Your Child!
- Some Common Sense Steps to Resolving Disagreements Between Parents and Schools
You and your child’s teachers should be able to work together to develop an educational program that will meet his needs and help him reach his academic potential.
Topic
Working with Families