How to help children with special needs navigate school

If you have children with special needs, heading back to school can be more challenging. You might worry whether new teachers will understand your child's needs, if the new classroom will be comfortable, or if new classmates will be sensitive to what makes your child so special. These tips can help you and your child get the new school year off to a good start.

Get organized

Whether your child receives private or public education, going back to school after summer vacation requires the usual planning: gathering school supplies, preparing lunchbox meals and after-school snacks, developing regular bedtime schedules, and other routine tasks. If you have children with special needs, you might want to do some additional planning and organization.

• File everything. Keep all electronic and paper communications in an easy-to-find place. Save emails about your child in a designated folder or print and save them in a folder with copies of forms, medical notes, and anything else you may need to reference. Create different folders for different children, if needed.
• Get a calendar app. In addition to setting up a family calendar for school schedules and events, make sure to note all appointments with school administrators, teachers, and medical providers. You might want to use a separate color to code these appointments, so they're easy to see at a glance.
• Record meetings and phone calls. It can be easy to get overwhelmed with confusing legal and medical language. Recording what school officials, physicians, and therapists tell you about your child is easier than trying to write everything down during your discussions.

Know your legal rights

Under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, public schools are required to provide accommodations for children with special needs through age 21. School-age children with special needs may need an individualized education program (IEP), or they may benefit from a 504 education plan.

These plans are usually designed in accordance with parents, teachers, school administration, and medical providers. They will set reasonable academic goals for your child based on his or her limitations and capabilities. For example, an IEP might require speech therapy, oral exams instead of written ones, or special education classes. As your child grows and moves through school, their IEP or 504 will need to be adjusted.

Reasons your child might need an IEP or 504

Getting your child an IEP will help them succeed in school. Some children might have physical or social problems participating in a traditional classroom setting, while other children might have emotional and mental health issues that can affect learning. Common conditions that could require an IEP or 504 include:

• Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
• Autism
• Developmental disabilities
• Dyslexia
• Hearing problems
• Language comprehension issues
• Verbal expression difficulties
• Physical disabilities
• Speech deficits
• Vision problems

It's important to have a trusted pediatrician on your team who can refer you to other specialists such as pediatric therapists or child psychologists.

Talk to your child's school

When meeting with school officials, be sure to get all the information you need and don't hesitate to ask questions.

• Clarify. Keep meetings focused on your child and specific goals.
• Offer suggestions. No one knows your child better than you.
• Stay positive. As frustrated as you may feel at times, most educators really do want to help your child.

Indiana and Ohio state Department of Education experts may also be able to help if you have more concerns.

De-stress before heading back to school

Easing into the school year slowly is a good way to help the whole family adjust to the new routine.

• Ask what your child is excited about learning this year, then do activities to build on that excitement, such as getting library books or watching a movie related to topics that spark their interest.
• Introduce your child to their homeroom teacher before school starts. If school open houses are too busy or uncomfortable for your child, reach out to the teacher for a one-on-one meeting.
• Get back into a regular sleep schedule before school starts. Make sure your kids are going to bed and getting up earlier than they did during the summer months, so the first day will be easier.
• Don't forget about healthcare. Your child may need a routine checkup and required booster shots for school. Also consider getting the whole family a flu shot and a COVID-19 vaccine or booster shot.
• If your child is attending a new school, visit together beforehand so they feel comfortable navigating the building or campus.
• Practice a daily nighttime routine, such as packing backpacks and laying out tomorrow's clothes before going to bed.
• Stock the pantry and fridge with healthy breakfast options that are easy to grab on the go. Try bananas, yogurt, and granola bars.

If you need additional guidance on how to make back to school a success, talk to your child's pediatrician or your Reid Health Pediatric Therapy.