If your child has an IEP?

Question

I'm wondering how many parents of kids with Ian IEP volunteer in their school, and to what extent do you help out.

From my experience the school(s) are much easier to work w/ if you make your presence known.

2 years ago, I was in the classroom helping the teacher once a week - my daughter's teachers (she had 4, one for each subject) and I had a wonderful relationship w/ the team and all my concerns were never ignored. They treated me like a part of their team and listened to me and I felt respected.

Last year, because of my job I could not help out except for one day (school field trip) and I felt totally ignored and my dd had much difficulty w/ her teacher (one general classroom teacher).

I often wonder if it is my volunteering, or the different school and teachers.

This year, I'm going to work part-time even though I'll be taking a huge pay cut so I can be involved with school on a daily basis.

Do you think it makes a huge difference in your child's education if you have the ability and time to help out in the classroom?

I would love to know your thoughts on this.

Thanks!

Answer 1

The more time you spend in the school, the more the staff knows you and yes, it can make situations surrounding an IEP go more smoothly.  I work as a parent advocate and always encourage the families I work with to volunteer in the school if possible, support the PTA/PTO, find ways to help out with fundraising, etc. Teachers and admin are more at ease dealing with parents they know from contact outside of IEP meetings.  Additionally, parents often find by volunteering that they have a better understanding of the school, it's budgetary issues, the teachers work load and classroom size and structure.  It helps them know that if something is not being done, it is often not happening because no one cares but because the school hasn't found a way to make it happen.  Reversely, by the school staff getting to know the parent it makes them realizes that you are not asking for things or arguing out of the blue, but that you simply did not know things or because you have seen first hand where the program is falling short.  And, as with almost any negotiations (be it IEP or business contracts) things go much smoother when all the parties know one another and realize they are working towards the same goal.