What should I do if I suspect that my child has a disability or requires an IEP?

What should I do if I suspect that my child has a disability or requires an IEP?

If you have concerns about your child’s progress in school or are concerned that he/she may require an Individualized Education Program (IEP) in order to succeed in school, the first step is to share your concerns with your child’s educational team. You can express your concern about your child’s education to his/her teacher, the building principal, or the director of special education.

Before children can be provided with an IEP, school teams must conduct an evaluation to determine if a child is eligible for special education services. This evaluation is often referred to as an “ETR” or an Evaluation Team Report. The ETR is a multi-disciplinary evaluation that assesses a child’s functioning in a variety of areas including cognitive, academic, behavioral, and social functioning. If your child is evaluated to determine eligibility for an IEP, the evaluation team will hold a meeting with you to review the results of the assessments.

Students are found eligible for an IEP when they are determined by the team to (1) meet the criteria for having one of the 13 disabilities defined by Ohio, (2) are performing significantly below expectations for their age or grade level, and (3) require special education services in order to make progress in school. If your child is found eligible for an IEP, the information from the evaluation will help the team develop an effective service plan. If your child is not eligible for an IEP, there are still a variety of supports available to help your child reach his full potential as a student in general education. Ask the school team about ways to support your child’s identified needs in the regular classroom. There are options available!

To schedule an evaluation for your child, contact Dr. Yakov Sherk, Psychiatrist, or Jeanette Meisel, School Psychologist at (614) 407-6513 today!