How to Assist Teachers to Include Students With Special Needs

Federal law mandates that students with special needs be taught in the least restrictive environment. Teaching in an inclusive general education classroom can be overwhelming when striving to meet the needs of all children, including those with medical, behavioral, developmental, mental or learning disabilities. Parents are a valuable resource to the teacher. Read on to learn how to assist teachers to include students with special needs.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

Open Lines of Communication

1. Build an open relationship with the teacher, because it is critical to your student's success. You are likely to be more knowledgeable about your child's particular disability than the teacher. But be patient, courteous, calm and respectful when working and speaking with the teacher.
2. Express your thoughts, concerns and disapproval to the teacher privately. Do not talk negatively about the teacher to your child.
3. Try to compromise on issues where you disagree with the teacher. Consider giving a teaching plan, evaluation strategy, placement or program a go for a trial period.
4. Check your child's progress after the trial period, and evaluate the positive and negative effects on the student. Discuss the outcome with the teacher, and decide what is best for your child.

Proactive Approach

5. Attend meetings with the teacher, school resource specialist and other members of your child's Individual Educational Program (IEP) team. Request meetings with the team when you see a need that must be addressed and allow the staff preparation time.
6. Develop a list of measurable educational goals and functional outcomes for your child. Share these goals with the teacher and the school staff involved with your special needs student's education.
7. Ask about the teacher's and the IEP team's measurable goals and functional outcomes for your child and the plan and time line to achieve them. Share ideas that will assist the teacher.
8. Make the teacher aware of circumstances outside of school that can affect your child's behavior such as divorce, death, a family member absent from the home because of work, illness or incarceration.
9. Explain your student's special dietary needs to the teacher, nurse and lunchroom staff.
10. Share your child's medical needs with the nurse, teacher and other staff members involved with your child throughout the day. Make sure the nurse has the required doctor's orders and medications on stock at all times.
11. Know what is in your child's IEP, and volunteer to assist the teacher with extra lesson preparation required to serve your special needs student. Running the photocopy machine or cutting out materials will be a big help.