Involving families in the special education process is an important part of ensuring that students with disabilities receive the support and services they need to succeed. Parents and guardians can provide valuable insights and perspectives on their child’s strengths, needs, and goals, and can play a key role in supporting their child’s learning and development. Here are a few key steps on how to involve families in the special education process.
1. Communicate Openly and Regularly
Communicating openly and regularly with parents and guardians is an important part of involving families in the special education process. This means keeping them informed about their child’s progress and any issues or concerns that may arise and making sure that they have the opportunity to ask questions and express their thoughts and concerns.
There are a few key things to consider when establishing open and regular communication with parents and guardians:
Use a variety of communication methods:
Different families have different preferences when it comes to communication, so it is important to offer a range of options. This might include holding regular meetings, sending updates via email or phone, or using other forms of communication such as video conferencing or text messaging.
Make sure you ask and learn up front what type of communication your families prefer. If calls are best and you’re always sending texts, you may be doomed on the communication front.
Invite feedback and input:
Parents and guardians often have valuable insights and perspectives on their child’s strengths, needs, and goals. Inviting their feedback and input can help ensure their child’s special education services are tailored to their specific needs and are meeting their goals.
More importantly, they may have valuable information about a student’s post-secondary life, available supports, and long-term goals that impact their current academic plan.
Be responsive:
It is important to be responsive to parents and guardians when they have questions or concerns and to make sure that they feel heard and supported. There is nothing worse than sitting in a meeting perfunctorily or getting a form letter you don’t understand. When questions come up, be receptive, approachable, and responsive. This might involve setting aside time to discuss issues in more detail, or providing additional resources or support as needed.
Overall, communicating openly and regularly with parents and guardians is an important way towards how to involve families in the special education process, plus it’ll improve the likelihood that a child achieves their educational and life goals.
2. Involve Parents in the Evaluation and Planning Process
Involving families in the special education process starting with the evaluation and planning process for their child’s special ed services is a way to ensure things are tailored to a child’s specific needs and goals. This might involve inviting parents and guardians to participate in evaluations or assessments, asking for their input on their child’s goals and objectives, and discussing their preferences for types of services or interventions.
Here are a few specific ways that parents and guardians can be involved in the evaluation and planning process:
Participate in evaluations or assessments:
Parents and guardians can provide valuable input and insights during evaluations or assessments of their child’s needs and abilities. They may answer questions about the child’s history and development, share observations about the child’s strengths and challenges, or provide input on the types of services and interventions they believe would be most helpful.
Review and provide input on the child’s Individualized Education Program (IEP):
The IEP is a written plan that’s legally binding. Parents and guardians should review and provide input on the IEP so it accurately reflects the child’s needs and goals, and make sure the services and supports are appropriate.
Attend IEP meetings:
IEP meetings are typically held at least once a year to review and update the child’s IEP. Parents and guardians should attend these meetings to provide input and feedback on the child’s progress and any changes that may be needed to the IEP.
The goal is their involvement. That means the school may need to be flexible with how they allow families to participate. Conference calls, videoconferencing, and in-person meetings should all be considered to help all members, especially family, participate.
Overall, involving parents and guardians in the evaluation and planning process is an important way to ensure that the child’s special education services are tailored to their specific needs and goals, and are meeting their needs effectively.
3. Collaborate with Parents on Accommodations and Modifications
Collaborating with parents and guardians on accommodations and modifications is an important way to support the learning and participation of students with disabilities in the classroom. Accommodations are changes to the way a student is taught or tested that allow them to more fully access the curriculum and participate in classroom activities. Modifications involve making more significant changes to the curriculum or expectations for a student.
Here are a few specific ways that parents and guardians can be involved in the process of determining accommodations and modifications for their child:
Share observations and insights:
Parents and guardians often have valuable insights and observations about their child’s strengths, needs, and challenges, and can provide input on which accommodations and modifications might be most helpful.
Collaborate with educators:
It is important for families to work with educators to determine appropriate accommodations and modifications for the child. This might involve discussing the child’s strengths and needs outside of the classroom, reviewing the child’s progress and any challenges they are facing as they apply their learning in the real world, and identifying strategies that will help the child more fully access the community.
Monitor and adjust:
It is important to regularly monitor the child’s progress and adjust the accommodations and modifications as needed to ensure that they are helping the child achieve their goals and overcome any challenges. Parents and guardians can give some real-world feedback to educators as to how supports are being generalized outside the classroom. This allows both parties to make any necessary adjustments to a student’s accommodations and modifications.
Overall, collaborating with parents and guardians on accommodations and modifications is an important way to support the learning and participation of students with disabilities in the classroom and how learning is being generalized outside the classroom. This can help students more fully access the curriculum and achieve their goals as well as succeed in the real world.
4. Provide Support and Resources
Providing support and resources to parents and guardians can be an important way to help them better understand their child’s disability and the special education process.
Here are a few specific ways that educators can provide support and resources to parents and guardians:
Share information about disability-specific organizations or support groups:
There are many organizations and support groups that provide information and resources specifically for parents and guardians of children with disabilities. Sharing information about these resources can help parents and guardians connect with others who are facing similar challenges, and can provide them with valuable support and guidance.
Provide access to educational materials and training opportunities:
There are many educational materials and training opportunities available to help parents and guardians better understand their child’s disability and the special education process. Providing access to these resources can help parents and guardians feel more confident and capable in their role as advocates for their child.
Offer individualized support:
Depending on the needs and preferences of the family, it may be helpful to offer individualized support to parents and guardians. This might involve providing one-on-one guidance and support, or connecting families with specialized resources or support services.
Overall, providing support and resources to parents and guardians is an important way to help them better understand their child’s disability and the special education process, and can help them feel more confident and capable in their role as advocates for their child.
Recap: Involving Families in Special Education
In conclusion, involving parents and guardians in the special education process is an important way to ensure that students with disabilities receive the support and services they need to succeed.
Parents and guardians can provide valuable insights and perspectives on their child’s strengths, needs, and goals, and can play a key role in supporting their child’s learning and development. By establishing open and regular communication, involving parents in the evaluation and planning process, collaborating on accommodations and modifications, and providing support and resources, educators can work with parents and guardians to help their child achieve their full potential.
Working together and collaborating is how to involve families in the special education process. Make sure it is meaningful to create an inclusive and supportive learning environment that helps all students with disabilities reach their full potential.
P.S. Check out this parent and student survey that’s perfect for prepping for an IEP meeting or getting information from the student and their family!
