Iep Interview

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Background Information To obtain a greater understanding of the Individualized Education Plan (IEP) process, I conducted an interview with a parent who helped to share her perspective and experiences with regards to the formation and details of planning, implementing and revising an IEP for her child. My family and I have personally known the Smith’s for around twenty years. My parents were actively involved in the orchestra at our local church and met the Smiths through our hand bell’s ministry. They were blessed with two children, Elise who is an eighth grade student and Emily who just started fourth grade. Both Elise and Emily grew up in a loving Christian home with upper middle class parents who love and support them. Elise attends…show more content…
She qualifies under "Multiple Disabilities", hearing impairment, vision impairment and developmental delay. She works with a speech specialist, occupational therapist, physical therapist and an aide. She attends an adapted P.E. class and participates in an anger management group with the school counselor. Due to the nature of CHARGE Syndrome, there are various areas that impact her school performance. As a result of her hearing and vision issues, she misses a lot of what happens around her. Instructions given during whole group instructional time pose a difficulty for Emily. She has been provided with an aid in order to help clarify content, instructions and directions. Emily can also be very distracted at times and depends upon her aid to keep her on track. Additionally, Emily has low muscle tone, a rather common symptom of CHARGE and has a hard time with gripping a pencil and writing. The provided aid also helps Emily through either typing or writing her answers. Emily’s school performance can also be greatly affected by behavioral issues. She struggles with handling frustration and has the potential to be very disruptive in the classroom. During moments of behavioral issues, Emily is taken out of the general education classroom. She does not return until she calms down and is ready to join the class. Such behavioral occurrences can…show more content…
Smith, Emily first began receiving early intervention for three years prior to beginning pre-school. She described this time as a positive experience, one she believed greatly helped benefit Emily. Once Emily started kindergarten however, Mrs. Smith began experiencing communication challenges with Emily’s teacher. Reflecting back on this time, Mrs. Smith noted that she was just beginning to learn herself what exactly it means to be an advocate for your child. She states that she would have handled Emily’s kindergarten year differently now, after all that she has been through. For example, Emily began experiencing disruptive behavioral problems in school beginning in early September. Mrs. Smith first heard about the recurring incidences only after assisting a class party at the end of October. She would define her daughter’s kindergarten year as a constant battle of communication. Within the text Teaching Students Who Are Exceptional, Diverse and at Risk, Pearson discusses the importance of maintaining an open two way communication between the parents and teachers. “Teachers should be aware of school and classroom-based ways to foster parent involvement and to provide leadership in promoting parent partnerships” (Vaughn, 2007). Additionally, teachers also need to be aware of each individual parent’s expectations of themselves and the school. Emily’s kindergarten teacher should have been more proactive about involving Mrs. Smith in the classroom
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