Parents Learn About Tracking Progress Of Students With Special Needs

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Parents Learn About Tracking Progress Of Students With Special Needs

It is imperative for caregivers and parents of students with special needs to

monitor their child's progress and find resources to help them, say education

professionals. At a seminar run by Montgomery County Public Schools on

Wednesday, parents learned that includes knowledge of their testing,

accommodations and self advocacy.

Symister-, Family Services Supervisor, and Pat Mosby from the System

of Care Family Coach and Training Innovations Institute, spoke about the

importance of tracking students progress in order to help them become successful

learners.

The session, which was held at Forest Oak Middle School, was the final seminar

in a & #65279;series & #65279; of 4 & #65279;E.A.S.E. (Empowerment, Advocacy and

Support in Education) & #65279;seminars.

The meeting, which was an open forum, encouraged parents to raise questions

about their specific situations.

Mosby and Symister- who are both parents of students with special needs

spoke about their personal experiences as well.

" A lot of times when things are going on or your child has a mental health

challenge, you blame yourself. Did I eat the wrong things or jump around too

much? It is important not to blame yourself, " said Mosby.

One thing she said that helped her through the County education process with her

son, was self-advocating and keeping a binder of all of his important documents.

" We need to be organized, so one of the things I did was take a binder and put

in it things that I got from the therapist, things I got from the doctor, things

that I got from the school, and things I got from other meetings, " said Mosby.

With this binder she said she was able to go into meetings with not only

resources, but an informed voice.

Symister- said some parents still feel they need more than just

information, for that she recommended the Family Navigators as a helpful tool.

Through a contract with the Montgomery County Federation of Families for

Children's Mental Health, the & #65279;Family Navigators & #65279; help provide

families with emotional support as well as information on services and mandates

within the system.

In addition to being knowledgeable Mosby also recommends that parents bring

someone with them to their child's 504, an accommodation & #65279; made for

children with special requirements, or Individualized Education Program & #65279;

(IEP) plan meetings as a tool to help track the child progress.

" I can go and advocate for other families, but sometimes I miss things with my

son and I miss things because I'm like a deer in headlights; it's more

personal, " said Mosby. " Taking someone with you helps catch those things you

might miss. "

Another helpful tip Mosby and Symister- touched on was to be aware of what

is in your child's IEP. This way you can make sure your child's needs are being

met. If they have accommodations follow-up with them, as well as their teachers

to ensure that they are receiving them.

" Also, make the accommodations known not just to you, but also to your child.

When you do that you empower them as a student, " said Symister-. " Don't

just keep them hidden in the testing, check in and see how those accommodations

are being met. "

One mother at the meeting commented on how helpful this group was for her before

and during her IEP meeting.

Mosby also expressed to parents that if they feel something is not correct with

the accommodations or if the accommodations are not available to press the

system.

" If your child has to use something like a graphic organizer, it is not

acceptable for a school to say that they are not available, " Mosby said.