Written by: S. Karthika MSW
Individual Education Plan (IEP) is a written program developed by the schools special education team for the children who has a difficulty in learning with the help of parents and specifies the student’s academic goals and the method to obtain these goals. It is a plan that shows how the school programmes will be adapted to fit the student.
It is designed according to the child’s learning style, capability and level of learning and meets the unique needs of one child. IEP helps the student to learn more effectively.
The IEP is intended to help children to reach educational goals more easily than they otherwise would. In all cases the IEP must be modified to the individual student’s needs as identified by the IEP evaluation process, and must especially help teachers under-stand the student’s disability and how the disability affects the learning process.
Developing an IEP requires assessing students in all areas relat-ed to the known difficulties, simultaneously considering ability to access the general curriculum, considering how the difficulty affects the student’s learning, forming goals and objectives that correspond to the needs of the student.
IEP team members are,
The parents, who have valuable information about child’s strengths and needs.
General education teachers who can share information about classroom expectations and child’s performance
Special education teacher who has training and experience in educating children with disabilities and in working with other educators to plan accommodations.
Psychologist, who can assess the child.
Any provider of a related service to the child. Normally this would be a speech therapist and occupational therapist.
Child’s Guidance Counselor may be needed in attendance to discuss courses that may be required for the child for their education career.
Annual review
The IEP team is responsible for conducting an annual review to ensure that the student is meeting goals and making progress. If an IEP is not helping the student in the classroom, an immediate revision is to occur.
The children require an IEP are,
Learning disabilities
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
Emotional disorders
Cognitive challenges
Autism
Hearing impairment
Visual impairment
Speech or language impairment
Developmental delay
The IEP process is complex, but it’s also an effective way to address how child learns and functions. Parents know their child best and should play a central role in creating a learning plan adapted to his or her specific needs. The IEP will identify supports and services the student needs for success.
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