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VIDBE - Q Volume 63 Issue 1
Preparation
for a
Successful
School Year
Have a meeting with the
student's educa tional team
at the beginning of each
year to explain
accommodations and show
them how to use the
technology.
Organize the most essential information
about your child's services on a one - page
document and place in a colored folder for
distribution, making s ure to include all
specials teachers (PE, music, art). *Refer
to this article for an example :
https://eric.ed.gov/?id=EJ991198
-- list accommodations, related services
(i.e., OT, PT, etc.), and any other per tinent
information (i.e., medical needs)
-- you can also include concise information
about your child's eye condition .
Anticipating
needs in
advance and
planning for
them
Help families plan for
transition early/anticipate
later needs to make
appropriate preparations.
-- i.e. ordering books for
courses, planning for
needed skills such as
keyboarding, anticipating
changes in assistive
technology needs such as
making it more portable .
Seek out agencies and get your child on
any waiting lists or services earl y, even if
they end up not needing the services later
(i.e. state Commissions for the Blind, Work
Force Commission); ask agency personnel
to attend your child's IEP meeting to help in
the planning process .
Instilling
confidence
ALWAYS communicate high
exp ectations to your
families/students .
ALWAYS have high expectations for your
child and make a point to convey that
message frequently. Show your
confidence by giving them responsibilities
and fostering his/her independence.
Technology Help families know what
technology their student will
need at home, to keep it
consistent with what he/she
is using at school.
Seek out information on assistive
technology and how it is incorporated in the
IEP:
http://www.tamuc.edu/academics/colleges/
educationHumanServices/departments/psy
chologyCounselingSpecialEducation/specia
l - education/at - lab/default.aspx
Tak e advantage of agency services;
agencies exist to help you acquire
equipment for the home (i.e., Computers
for the Blind , Blind Children's Program)
https://www.computersfortheblind.net/
