{"id":7141,"date":"2024-11-21T04:09:40","date_gmt":"2024-11-21T04:09:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/prrf.org\/?page_id=7141"},"modified":"2025-05-12T09:50:11","modified_gmt":"2025-05-12T09:50:11","slug":"partnering-with-your-school","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/prrf.org\/pt\/parents\/partnering-with-your-school\/","title":{"rendered":"Partnering with Your School"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Partnering with Your School<\/h1>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Partnerships between schools and other community organizations and families are helping to create supports that enable children and youth to learn and succeed and help families and communities to thrive. These partnerships bring together diverse individuals and groups, including parents, educators and administrators, school boards, community-based organizations, youth development organizations, and health and human service agencies to expand opportunities for children with low vision and their families.<\/p>\n

An important first step is to assess the broad range of resources that are currently available within or connected to their school. Some of these programs and services may be directly supported by the school; others may be supported by community organizations as well as local county and state agencies. Parents should ask and take inventory of the programs and services already administered by the school and its community partners. Once you know what programs and services exist, your challenge is to make sure these programs and services are coordinated and implemented to achieve desired results and to identify new programs and services that may be needed.<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n

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Building the \u201cTeam\u201d<\/h2>\n

\u00a0No one person has all the necessary specialized knowledge and skills to meet a low vision child\u2019s unique need. For this reason, the concept of the \u201cteam\u201d is fundamental when it comes to promoting your child\u2019s growth, development, and learning. Throughout your child\u2019s school years, you will be working with a variety of professionals to ensure that your child gets the educational services he needs for a successful foundation in life.<\/p>\n

Under the\u00a0Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)<\/a>, the law that governs the education of students with disabilities, the educational team has a central role in a low vision child\u2019s education. While the team consists of the school, community, and local agency professionals who work with your child and plan his education, every child\u2019s team will be different, depending on the particular needs of that child and family as well as his age. For very young children, the team works directly with the family as well as the child (known as\u00a0\u201cEarly Intervention Services\u201d<\/a>), and develops an\u00a0Individual Family Service Plan (ISFP)<\/a>to detail the services that are needed to meet the needs of both the child and the family as a whole. Once your child turns three years old, his educational team will focus on his individual and educational needs and will write an\u00a0Individualized Education Program (IEP)<\/a> that outlines his educational goals and the services that will help meet them.\u00a0\u00a0Some of the team members provide what are considered \u201crelated services<\/a>\u201d under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Related services are those services required to help your child benefit from his special education.<\/p>\n

Your Role as a Parent<\/h2>\n

One thing to never forget is that the parents are an equal member of your child\u2019s team.\u00a0\u00a0Over your child\u2019s lifetime, members of his team will change regularly, but you will remain the one constant.\u00a0<\/em>As a parent, you are the critical and integral member of the team.\u00a0\u00a0You know your child best, having seen his \/ her behavior.\u00a0\u00a0You have witnessed his \/ her progress under all kinds of circumstances.\u00a0Over time, you have seen your child develop and grow as well as have a better understanding of his \/ her limitation.\u00a0Your input is crucial for understanding both his abilities and needs. Team members who are professionals trained in the education and rehabilitation of visually impaired students as you have the specialized knowledge and skills to assess and instruct.\u00a0\u00a0When their efforts are combined with yours, your child gets the maximum benefit.<\/p>\n

Team Membership<\/h2>\n

Important members of the team will be professionals who specialize in working with children who are visually impaired and those who work directly with him in the classroom\u00a0include:<\/p>\n