This week we learned about how a child is referred for screening and testing to see whether they are eligible for an IEP or other special education services. I really enjoyed this lesson because even though I have had an IEP since I was in kindergarten, I didn't realize the process of deciding whether or not a child is eligible. I found it interesting that there are so many steps involved in the decision process.
Growing up, my special education teachers or resource teachers were required to perform tests on each of the students who had an IEP every month. By the time I got to high school I was so tired of having to have the same tests done each month. The tests they would perform were a timed one minute reading test, a timed writing test with a writing prompt, and a timed math test with all types of math problems. They performed the tests each month to document progress throughout the year so that when it was time for the annual IEP meeting they would have documentation of progress or things that needed to be worked on.
Looking back I am grateful they performed the tests even though in the moment I thought it was pointless and a waste of time. The documentation they had at the end of the year for the annual IEP meeting helped establish goals, allowed me to see that I was improving, and allowed those involved in my education to see where I was academically and where I needed to be.
In order for a child to be eligible for services there are specific things that have to be determined. First, screening must be performed to determine whether or not the child's performance differs enough from the child's peers to need changes in instruction or even if the child needs more in-depth testing to rule out a disability. Second, diagnosis is determined by the results of the screening and by questions like does the student meet the guideline to be classified as having a disability? If so, what is the extent of the child's disability?. Third, program placement decides where the child's education should take place. This allows educators to decide whether the child needs to be in a special education class full time, part time, or just for special circumstances like testing.
If a child is found to have a disability there is a team that comes up with an action plan to help the child succeed in school. There are many things the school can do to accommodate a child with special needs, the first step is getting the child tested. As parents of children you are not required to wait until someone approaches you about the possibility of your child having a disability. If you feel you child may have a disability you have the right to ask to have your child tested.
I learned a lot this week and am grateful that I had educators throughout my schooling who cared about my well being and who took the time to perform the monthly tests in order to document progress, strengths, weaknesses and have data to support possible goals for the next year. I liked how my special education teachers didn't allow me to get away with things and they pushed me to be the best person I could be. I am grateful for their support as I grew up and went through challenging time. My senior year in high school they were very invested in my education, goals and future plans. They wanted to help me in anyway they could to allow me to succeed as I graduated and moved on to college and my future. I will always be grateful for all they did for me and how much they supported me in my educational and life goals.
~Kolbey
Friday, October 28, 2016
Friday, October 21, 2016
Collaboration
This week we learned about collaboration. the definition of collaboration is the action of working with someone to produce or create something. Collaboration is so important when working with children with special needs. If there isn't collaboration when working with and for special needs students they won't receive the care and education they deserve.
After I had my stroke when I was 14 the doctors, nurses, therapists, and many other people had to collaborate together in order to come up with a plan to help me recover. If they hadn't collaborated I probably wouldn't be where I am today. It is so important for everyone to be on the same page when caring for special needs students. When people are on the same page the student gets the best education possible and is able to be successful.
Another example of collaboration I have is IEP meetings. Growing up I had an IEP meeting every year from kindergarten to 12th grade. If the staff that attended those meetings weren't able to agree on an action plan I wouldn't have been so successful in school and i likely wouldn't be two semesters away from my college graduation. When people get together and come up with a plan of action and create an IEP for a student most of the time the student is involved in the decision making. I never wanted to be a part of my IEP meetings but was forced to start being a part of them when I was a sophomore in high school. I hated hearing the IEP team talk about me because I hate being the center of attention. I learned a lot in those three years of participating in my IEP meetings and looking back I am grateful I was forced to be a part of them because now I know how to collaborate with others and am able to advocate for myself.
I am grateful for the people who have collaborated on my behalf so that I could get where I am today.
In the textbook Including Students with Special Needs Chapter Three it states seven parts to collaboration they are: shared problem solving, discover a shared need, identify the problem, propose solutions, evaluate ideas, plan specifics, and implement the solution. Each of these things are things that should be done when collaboration on behalf of a student with special needs. In an IEP meeting this is exactly what happens as the team talks about the needs and goals for the child.
It is so important to work together when talking about the success of a special needs child. All the child wants is to be successful but they can't do it alone they need people who will help them and work together to do what is best for the child as an individual not just as "another student in the classroom."
~Kolbey Nicholls
After I had my stroke when I was 14 the doctors, nurses, therapists, and many other people had to collaborate together in order to come up with a plan to help me recover. If they hadn't collaborated I probably wouldn't be where I am today. It is so important for everyone to be on the same page when caring for special needs students. When people are on the same page the student gets the best education possible and is able to be successful.
Another example of collaboration I have is IEP meetings. Growing up I had an IEP meeting every year from kindergarten to 12th grade. If the staff that attended those meetings weren't able to agree on an action plan I wouldn't have been so successful in school and i likely wouldn't be two semesters away from my college graduation. When people get together and come up with a plan of action and create an IEP for a student most of the time the student is involved in the decision making. I never wanted to be a part of my IEP meetings but was forced to start being a part of them when I was a sophomore in high school. I hated hearing the IEP team talk about me because I hate being the center of attention. I learned a lot in those three years of participating in my IEP meetings and looking back I am grateful I was forced to be a part of them because now I know how to collaborate with others and am able to advocate for myself.
I am grateful for the people who have collaborated on my behalf so that I could get where I am today.
In the textbook Including Students with Special Needs Chapter Three it states seven parts to collaboration they are: shared problem solving, discover a shared need, identify the problem, propose solutions, evaluate ideas, plan specifics, and implement the solution. Each of these things are things that should be done when collaboration on behalf of a student with special needs. In an IEP meeting this is exactly what happens as the team talks about the needs and goals for the child.
It is so important to work together when talking about the success of a special needs child. All the child wants is to be successful but they can't do it alone they need people who will help them and work together to do what is best for the child as an individual not just as "another student in the classroom."
~Kolbey Nicholls
Saturday, October 15, 2016
Special Education Procedures and Services
This week taught me a lot about how important it is to help children with special needs. Accommodations are required in order for students with disabilities to succeed in school. I think it is important to view children as individual people and love them for who they are. Whether or not a child has a disability all they want is to feel accepted and like they are important and special.
Growing up I struggled at times feeling like I was accepted by my peers because i had some disabilities and wasn't "normal" like the rest of my peers. I finally learned that is doesn't matter what others think of me and grew to love myself for how I am.
Growing up I struggled at times feeling like I was accepted by my peers because i had some disabilities and wasn't "normal" like the rest of my peers. I finally learned that is doesn't matter what others think of me and grew to love myself for how I am.
Friday, October 7, 2016
Individualized Education Plan (IEP)
As I started this week and realized we would be learning about IEP's I thought "I already know everything there is to know about an IEP since I've had one since Kindergarten." Honestly, at first I was not excited for this weeks lesson because I know so much about them. Then I seen we were required to watch a video entitled Accessable IEP's For All. I was shocked by this video because it was almost like this IEP meeting was for me. I was hearing parents of different children say they avoided their IEP meetings, or would get so stressed out during the IEP meeting that they would go throw-up after.
As a child I refused to go to my IEP meetings because i didn't enjoy being talked about and I just felt awkward. Then high school came and my resource teachers drilled into my head for four years that I am a "self-advocate" and needed to voice my opinions and speak up for myself. I'll be honest I still hate the words self advocacy but I am grateful for the resource teachers who made me speak for myself even though I was uncomfortable and didn't enjoy doing it.
The first IEP meeting I attended was my Sophomore year in high school and to say I was scared is an understatement. I have never been one who enjoys public speaking and I am a very quiet person so getting up in a room full of people was definitely not the first thing on my bucket list. Throughout high school I gained confidence in myself and my abilities because of loving parents and teachers who didn't let me get away with not speaking up for myself.
In the video it talks about children who are almost embarrassed to have anyone know they have an IEP. I can completely relate to what those children feel. For several years I was embarrassed to go to my Study Skills class where I would have an hour a day to get help with homework and had time to study. My embarrassment got worse as I got older because my peers would ask what class I was going to and I would respond with "Study Skills" and they wanted to know more about it. The other thing that bothered me for several years was I would leave the mainstream classroom when I would take tests so I could focus without feeling rushed to finish first. People would often ask me where I would go when they took the test and I was embarrassed to say I took it in another room so I would just avoid the topic completely.
This all changed during my sophomore year of high school. I was really struggling emotionally and was having a hard time finding friends after my stroke the previous year. I now realize I had some pretty incredible resource teachers. At the time I know I gave them attitude and I feel terrible thinking back because they were so supportive of me and my education. I'm not sure how I would have survived my sophomore year without them because I was still recovering from my stroke. They helped me so much during those four years and taught me many life lessons. One of which I will never forget is SELF-ADVOCACY. I got so tired of hearing this word but they were right nothing happens in life unless you advocate for yourself. I have especially learned this in my three years of college I have had to talk to instructors and people I didn't necessarily feel comfortable with but that's how you get things accomplished.
So, what does this story have to do with an IEP? First, to the educators keep doing what you are doing, Make the students advocate for themselves whenever possible. They might hate it but it will teach them valuable lessons. I learned really quickly that in college instructors, disability services and others at the college don't care or want parents calling or coming in for their student. It is expected that the student talk to the teachers and others they need to at the college for whatever needs they may have.
Second, to the students listen to your resource teachers in high school because it's a whole different world once you graduate. Take their advice to heart and value their opinions because they really do know what they are talking about.
Third, thank you to everyone who has supported me and pushed me so that I could get where I am today. I couldn't have done it without you love, guidance and patience.
An IEP is a great resource for students who have a documented disability. I has really blessed my life and helped me get where I am today. If it weren't for the support of family educators and sometimes friends I wouldn't be where I am today. They were understanding and helped me learn in the way that was best for me. Looking back my study skills class was very beneficial because I did my homework and did it well because there was always someone there to help me and make sure I did it right.
I may not have loved certain aspects of an IEP growing up but now I am grateful that I got the help I needed so I could succeed in school. There was a time I didn't know if I would get to go to college and now I am two semesters away from graduation and couldn't be more grateful for the love and support I have received the last 15 years to get me where I am today.
As a child I refused to go to my IEP meetings because i didn't enjoy being talked about and I just felt awkward. Then high school came and my resource teachers drilled into my head for four years that I am a "self-advocate" and needed to voice my opinions and speak up for myself. I'll be honest I still hate the words self advocacy but I am grateful for the resource teachers who made me speak for myself even though I was uncomfortable and didn't enjoy doing it.
The first IEP meeting I attended was my Sophomore year in high school and to say I was scared is an understatement. I have never been one who enjoys public speaking and I am a very quiet person so getting up in a room full of people was definitely not the first thing on my bucket list. Throughout high school I gained confidence in myself and my abilities because of loving parents and teachers who didn't let me get away with not speaking up for myself.
In the video it talks about children who are almost embarrassed to have anyone know they have an IEP. I can completely relate to what those children feel. For several years I was embarrassed to go to my Study Skills class where I would have an hour a day to get help with homework and had time to study. My embarrassment got worse as I got older because my peers would ask what class I was going to and I would respond with "Study Skills" and they wanted to know more about it. The other thing that bothered me for several years was I would leave the mainstream classroom when I would take tests so I could focus without feeling rushed to finish first. People would often ask me where I would go when they took the test and I was embarrassed to say I took it in another room so I would just avoid the topic completely.
This all changed during my sophomore year of high school. I was really struggling emotionally and was having a hard time finding friends after my stroke the previous year. I now realize I had some pretty incredible resource teachers. At the time I know I gave them attitude and I feel terrible thinking back because they were so supportive of me and my education. I'm not sure how I would have survived my sophomore year without them because I was still recovering from my stroke. They helped me so much during those four years and taught me many life lessons. One of which I will never forget is SELF-ADVOCACY. I got so tired of hearing this word but they were right nothing happens in life unless you advocate for yourself. I have especially learned this in my three years of college I have had to talk to instructors and people I didn't necessarily feel comfortable with but that's how you get things accomplished.
So, what does this story have to do with an IEP? First, to the educators keep doing what you are doing, Make the students advocate for themselves whenever possible. They might hate it but it will teach them valuable lessons. I learned really quickly that in college instructors, disability services and others at the college don't care or want parents calling or coming in for their student. It is expected that the student talk to the teachers and others they need to at the college for whatever needs they may have.
Second, to the students listen to your resource teachers in high school because it's a whole different world once you graduate. Take their advice to heart and value their opinions because they really do know what they are talking about.
Third, thank you to everyone who has supported me and pushed me so that I could get where I am today. I couldn't have done it without you love, guidance and patience.
An IEP is a great resource for students who have a documented disability. I has really blessed my life and helped me get where I am today. If it weren't for the support of family educators and sometimes friends I wouldn't be where I am today. They were understanding and helped me learn in the way that was best for me. Looking back my study skills class was very beneficial because I did my homework and did it well because there was always someone there to help me and make sure I did it right.
I may not have loved certain aspects of an IEP growing up but now I am grateful that I got the help I needed so I could succeed in school. There was a time I didn't know if I would get to go to college and now I am two semesters away from graduation and couldn't be more grateful for the love and support I have received the last 15 years to get me where I am today.
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