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How to: IEPs Edition

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 One of the most important components of special education is the Individualized Education Plan (or IEP for short). If you are a parent of a child with special needs, or if you are a part of the interdisciplinary team  in school, you will no doubt run across an IEP at some point...  But what is it?? Simply put, an IEP is a plan tailored to a child with identified special needs that helps compensate for any educational or physical deficits by creating modifications within the child's school day. This is typically several pages long, and it can be presented online or via hard copy. Specific IEP modifications may include: Speech or language services occupational therapy physical therapy specialized instruction in one or more subjects classroom modifications (ex: preferential seating, extended time on tests, access to a paraprofessional, etc.) How is a child deemed eligible for an IEP? IEPs are usually put in place through a combination of a doctor's diagnosis, skilled observation
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From a Parent: Things I Wish I Would Have Known

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 If you are a parent of a child with special needs, I have a special resource for you today.  As it so happens, I (The Speechie Godmother) have a disability myself. I am an identical twin, and my sister and I were born at 27 weeks. We subsequently each have types of cerebral palsy. Being that my mother experienced her share of trials when advocating for myself and my sister, I asked her to write a piece for "The Speechie Godmother" explaining her experience from a parent's perspective.  You see, I want to help, and I have experience working with special populations. However, my experience can only go so far... I am not a parent. Sometimes, it helps to get advice from someone who has been in the situations we are experiencing and has come out on the other side.  So, without further ado, please enjoy my mother's opinion piece on parenting and advocating for children with special needs.  I hope this helps you!  ------------------------------------------------------------
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Your child can't get services anymore - now what?

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 Hello friends!  Today I wanted to discuss something that has likely been a struggle for many parents: what to do when your child can't get services anymore.  This could happen for a variety of reasons - maybe they've been receiving early intervention, but they've aged out of the program. Maybe they've been on an overworked school SLP's caseload who has decided they're no longer able to serve the child. Maybe insurance refuses to pay for more sessions. Maybe it's something else entirely. Whatever it is, it isn't fair. Not to you, and certainly not to your child.  Never fear, though, because I want to arm you with some tips and advice geared to help you and your little one. We all know that communication is a basic human right that everyone should have access to. Hopefully these pieces of advice will help your child get this vital need met.  So your child doesn't qualify for services anymore - what should you do?  First things first - don't panic!
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IDEA, IEP, and 504 - Oh My!

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 Hello there!  Welcome back to "The Speechie Godmother," your friendly neighborhood advocacy blog! Today, I want to talk about something that is very important when navigating special needs in the school system. It is also something that can seem daunting to many a parent, student, or even professional:  Disability law and individualized student plans. Now, before you scream, hear me out: this may seem scary and complicated, but it doesn't have to be. Bear with me as I break a few things down for you. For ease of reference, this will be broken down into 4 distinct sections:  A history and breakdown of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) 504 Plans Links to video and informational resources Okay, so now that we've got that out of the way... let's dive in.  Individuals with Disabilities Education Act A Little History     In 1975, President Gerald Ford signed the Education for All Handicapped Children Act into l
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An Introduction to "The Speechie Godmother"

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 Hello, friends!  Welcome to "The Speechie Godmother!" I hope this will be a beneficial resource for you as you navigate the perilous waters of special needs advocacy within the school system and beyond.  In this blog, we'll cover:  the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) the most common disabilities as defined by the IDEA IEPs, 504 plans, and special accommodations for your student common stigmas surrounding disabilities and how to combat them ADA compliance in Missouri schools personal advice and stories from parents, educators, and others local resource agencies and how they can help you mental health as it relates to disabilities support groups for parents and SO MUCH MORE! My hope with this blog is that it can grow and facilitate meaningful conversations while becoming an educational resource for you and for me.  Speaking of me... I suppose I should introduce myself!  Hi, my name is Micaela. I am currently a second-year graduate student in the speech-l
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