Communication

2 07, 2018

Using Assistive Technology to Support Socialization

kristina@partnerstx.org2018-07-23T14:32:03-05:00

Assistive technology (AT) can support socialization in many ways. It can help children interact independently with their environment and peers by providing ways to express themselves. It can also help children build friendships, explore their environment and reduce frustration that may bring about or be associated with challenging behaviors. These types of AT devices are most often labeled as visual supports or social supports. […]

Using Assistive Technology to Support Socializationkristina@partnerstx.org2018-07-23T14:32:03-05:00

12 06, 2018

How to Communicate with Schools in Writing

kristina@partnerstx.org2018-07-12T15:34:05-05:00

The bank, elected official, a credit card company, a boss, a fellow employee, or a local handyman have all asked customers and consumers to “put that in writing, please.” For parents of children with disabilities, there are even more reasons to “put that in writing, please.” They might be providing documentation about their child’s disability to strangers. A request for a meeting with a teacher, a change in their child’s program, an adjustment to their child’s testing schedules — each may require a letter. And not all of us are comfortable writing a letter for these requests — it can be [...]

How to Communicate with Schools in Writingkristina@partnerstx.org2018-07-12T15:34:05-05:00

16 08, 2017

How Do I Get My Child’s IEP Going at the Beginning of the School Year?

kristina@partnerstx.org2018-07-12T11:12:27-05:00

My daughter got her first IEP last spring when she was a fifth grader. She started attending middle school this fall and it seems to be taking a long time for the school to line up some of her service providers. Is there anything I can do to help get her IEP going at the beginning of the school year? Unfortunately, this problem is not uncommon. Schools often have to deal with faculty and staff leaving and new faculty and staff starting. Schedules sometimes change at the last minute. A new school year may also come with shifts in policies and [...]

How Do I Get My Child’s IEP Going at the Beginning of the School Year?kristina@partnerstx.org2018-07-12T11:12:27-05:00

9 08, 2017

8 Tips for Building a Good Relationship With Your Child’s Teacher

kristina@partnerstx.org2018-07-23T14:12:10-05:00

Developing a good relationship with your child’s teacher will make it easier for you to share concerns and work together to help your child succeed. Here are some tips from Understood.org for building a partnership: 1. Meet with the teacher and staff ASAP Consider meeting even before the school year starts, if possible. If your child has an IEP, give the teacher a copy of it. Share other information—like hobbies, interests and important family events—that will help your teacher get to know your child. 2. Find out how the teacher wants to be reached Share email addresses and phone numbers. Explore [...]

8 Tips for Building a Good Relationship With Your Child’s Teacherkristina@partnerstx.org2018-07-23T14:12:10-05:00

8 08, 2017

Learning to Negotiate is Part of the Advocacy Process

kristina@partnerstx.org2018-07-12T14:53:51-05:00

Be specific! When you make a statement like “I want my child to have a free appropriate education,” this is like asking for a piece of string of unknown or undefined length. Your statement of “I want . . .” must be followed by a “because.” The “because” should come from your well-stated issues and your supporting factual evidence. Why? Because any issue that you identify as a grievance is a request that something be done differently than it is being done now. Techniques & Tactics 1. Listen carefully to the other side. If you listen carefully enough, you’ll find that [...]

Learning to Negotiate is Part of the Advocacy Processkristina@partnerstx.org2018-07-12T14:53:51-05:00

7 08, 2017

How Can I Help My Child Cope With Anxiety About Going Back to School?

kristina@partnerstx.org2018-07-23T14:12:33-05:00

My son is anxious about going back to school, and the closer we get to the first day back, the worse it gets. He’s been acting out and throwing tantrums, saying he refuses to go. What can I do? Going back to school can be a stressful time for both parents and children. Starting a new school year can make kids nervous, especially if there will be changes from the previous year, such as a new school, new teachers or new peers. If your child seems very distressed about going back, here are some things to discuss with him. Find a [...]

How Can I Help My Child Cope With Anxiety About Going Back to School?kristina@partnerstx.org2018-07-23T14:12:33-05:00

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