Strategies for IEP Goals Autism Experts Recommend Most

Strategies for IEP Goals Autism Experts Recommend Most

The IEP goals that autism patients typically seek to achieve include more effective learning, minimized symptom behavior, and an individualized understanding experience.

An IEP is the individualized education plan created for your child's learning experience at school. The IEP provides a uniquely tailored document that guides the educational development of the individual child and allows teachers, parents and professionals to see whether or not real progress is being made.

The IEP goals that parents strive for are an overall approach that includes measurable elements so that progress - or lack thereof - can be recognized. No two plans are the same and each has its own individual purpose and steps to achieve further educational development.

Parents often wonder what role they play in the development of their child's IEP, its goals, and its practices. Fortunately, there are many resources to help parents on this sometimes daunting journey.

The first thing parents should do is sit down with their child's teachers to discuss their child's needs, challenges, and various autism symptoms and behaviors. This will help ensure that your child's IEP and its goals actually form a practical and workable basis for the educational services they will receive.

It is important that parents understand exactly what the IEP means and how it impacts the autistic child's learning. Therefore, parents should always feel encouraged to do their own research, seek second opinions, and ask as many questions as necessary until the IEP is fully understood.

Experts recommend that parents think of IEP goals as a process and document to be determined, rather than a vague, indefinable concept. This way, parents are better able to learn about each of the parts of the autism IEP and its goals while creating the final document.

With each new school year, parents become more familiar with the various steps to writing IEP goals that their children will work toward. You'll learn many important tips and strategies to make the most of the IEP meeting to create the document, such as:

1. Before meeting, review your child's information, including information about their home, community (e.g., doctors, tutors, therapists, etc.), and schools. If you find that the information does not show the complete picture, strive to fill in as many of the missing pieces as possible. You want to be sure that the picture you paint of your child's unique situation is as accurate as possible. Bring your materials to the meeting, including pictures your child has drawn or painted, any work your child has done, audiotapes and/or videotapes that show insights or specific concerns you would like to share.

2. If your child will be attending all or part of the IEP meeting, let him or her know in advance exactly how the meeting will proceed. Let your child know that this is a very important meeting and that any ideas or opinions they may contribute may be helpful. You may need to prepare your child for each part of the meeting and that he or she may need to speak up. Talk to your child about expressing feelings and ideas.

3. Brainstorm with the people who know your child well—such as family members, friends, teachers, therapists, tutors, and counselors—to come up with ideas for the IEP meeting. Write everything down so you don't forget it.

4. Ask each team member questions at the IEP meeting so you always understand. Do not hesitate to request further explanations. If you disagree with something, ask more questions and request backup information that supports that person's claim. If you have information that says otherwise, please feel free to share.

5. Be thorough about your efforts at the meeting. Make sure you fully agree with the proposal and the language used in the document. Before any of the IEP Target Autism processes are completed, make sure your child's unique needs are being met and that there are no doubts in your mind.

Inspired by Rachel Evans