I recently attended Kay’s yearly IEP meeting with her teachers and all staff involved in Kay’s care. For those unfamiliar, an IEP (Individualized Education Plan) outlines the specific educational needs of a child with a disability and the services they’ll receive to support them in school.
Since Kay started school after winter break last year, not much has changed with her IEP. Her goals remain similar, and she still receives speech therapy once a week for about 30 minutes. Additionally, her IEP includes accommodations for her Type 1 Diabetes to ensure her needs are met. Having an IEP is a legal safeguard, so the school is required to follow it to prevent any issues. Fortunately, we’ve had a great experience with Kay’s school, and they’ve been diligent about making sure she gets the support she needs and deserves.
Kay’s current goals include things like counting to 5 for her teacher—even though I’ve told her teacher she can count to at least 13! If you know Kay, you know she won’t do anything she doesn’t want to do. (Stubbornness runs strong with this one!) Other goals focus on physical activities, such as catching a ball with both hands or walking on a straight line or balance beam. Every child’s IEP is tailored to their unique needs and is filled with tools to help them thrive throughout life.
One thing I’m especially grateful for is the ability to do these meetings virtually. It makes such a difference when I have Kay at home, running around. It’s so much easier to keep her entertained with her own toys rather than trying to manage her in a school meeting.