Your child is struggling in school. This could be with academics, behavior, socialization, emotional regulation, or physical development. The first thing you should do is talk to your child's teacher and asks if the teacher is seeing your child struggle as well. School should be challenging, but not frustrating and overwhelming. Your child should be making what is called effective progress. This means that they are learning and developing at a steady pace and at the same rate as their peers. If not, you may suspect a learning disability.
Request an evaluation from the school department. Always put the request in writing and address it to the Special Needs Department. The School Department should evaluate your child in all areas of suspected disability. This includes psychological, educational achievement, speech and language, occupational therapy, physical therapy, social and functional skills, and functional behavioral. Check out my next article about evaluations. Titled, Evaluations, what are they and what do they tell us.
Once the school department completes the evaluations, there should be a meeting called a team meeting. The team includes a representative from the special education office, a representative from the school (principal, vice Principal, guidance counselor, etc...) a regular education teacher, a special education teacher, a school psychologist, a speech therapist, an occupational therapist, a physical therapist, and anyone that needs to be present to discuss evaluation results and provide input to the team to help determine if your child is eligible for services and what they will look like.
If your child is determined to have a disability and is eligible for special education, then a Individual Education Program (IEP) is developed with accommodations, goals, and services. These are based on your child's needs as demonstrated through the evaluations. Your child's strengths, vision and goals should always be included in the IEP.
This can be a daunting process and if you are able to hire someone, such as, an advocate, or attorney, it is in your best interest to do so. You want to make sure that your child gets the services and supports that they need or the struggle with school will continue. With fewer funds available to schools and the services provided to children with special needs, you sometimes have to fight for what your child is entitled to under the law.
