Chelsey's Tips

The goals are a reflection of your son or daughter's greatest area of need at school. The goals reflected in the IEP will be worked on all year, so it is important that parents really understand what their child will be working on. Below is a quick handout I made for parents as well as some great links to check out.

The students that are the most successful are working on goals in the classroom, in the community, and at home. Remember to think about the big picture. While the teachers are working on the IEP goals in the classroom, efforts should be made at home, and in the community to help each student focus on goal achievement. Without reinforcement outside of the classroom, the goals will remain simply aspirational.

Schools are full of resources and a child's success is all about tapping into those resources. One of the biggest things I learned early on in teaching, was to take full advantage of all the related services and support staff. It takes a village to raise a child and the same can be said for educating one.

As a special education teacher I relied on the support of everyone to connect with students. While I wrote the individualized education plans and provide accommodations, it is the special education paraprofessionals who share countless moments connecting with students across multiple settings. That support is also found in the cafeteria staff who have taken the time to get to know the students, and celebrate with them when they reach milestones (such as remembering their lunch number independently for the first time).

It is the little things that impact our students the most, and those little things can come from any area of the school system. There was a bus driver in my third year of teaching that really stood out to me due to his passion for helping kids. At the end of each school day, he would stand at the doors of his bus, and greet each student as they entered. He made sure to make each student feel special, by letting them know he couldn’t wait to hear about their day on the ride home. Students who were often closed off or struggled to communicate were opening up and sharing what they had learned that day with their bus driver.

Student resources can even be found in the amazing front office staff who wait each week to order breakfast from the bagel cart that the special needs students run. Even after the holidays when everyone swore they were going on a diet; they were still there ordering their bagel and cream cheese, and patiently helping the student who had struggled all year with understanding money, count out the correct quarters. Every school employee impacts a child and contributes to the lessons they learn at school. After all, some of the biggest lessons we learn can’t be found in a textbook.

Think about who is at your son or daughter’s school. Who are they connecting with and who is making a difference in their educational experience?

What is a Special Needs Trust:

Special needs trusts are made specifically for the benefit of those with physical and/or mental disabilities, including those with mental disabilities who may not have the cognitive capacity to manage their own finances. The trust is created with the specific needs, lifestyle, and future of the beneficiary in mind.

Benefits to a Special Needs Trust:

*Someone is able to help the individual manage a large amount of money.

*Special needs trusts are used to ensure that the beneficiaries don't loose government benefits they are receiving.

Below are resources here in Phoenix that can assist with creating a special needs trust:

*Special Needs Answers: https://specialneedsanswers.com/what-is-a-special-needs-trust-13601

Biven's & Associates: https://www.bivenslaw.com/special-needs-planning/?gclid=CjwKCAjw7IbaBRBqEiwA6AyZgjns4UrXI0fL23cgYFk0suS7knpSj0UK6ob4KHgl20GIs6OFyo0wHxoC6_YQAvD_BwE