IEP's and 504's are somewhat tricky to understand but it is extremely important for teachers to understand these documents. Through understanding, teachers will be able to provide a quality learning environment for all students in their classrooms. In my time as a long term substitute last year, I personally worked with a number of students that had either an IEP or a 504, mainly students with 504's. It is important to understand these documents because accommodations will need to be made in order for students to learn appropriately. In my experience, accommodations generally included preferential seating, extended time for assessments, and distraction limitations. In addition to understanding the documents themselves, it is important as a teacher to understand your role in the development of the documents. Personally, I have been involved from a parental standpoint for the IEP for my son. However, I found the process difficult to understand and felt that I had little say in the process. Through my course readings, I have learned that as a parent, I do have significant influence on my child's IEP process. As an educator, I will strive to make sure parents understand that they can impact their students learning through the IEP process. I think it is important for the parents to know they have an opinion and that their opinion is an important step of the process.
Included is a venn diagram showing the differences and similarities of IEP's and 504's.
References:
1. Bennett, A., & Frank, L. (2009, January/February). Special education process: IEP vs.504 plan. 2e: Twice-Exceptional Newsletter. Retrieved July 20, 2016, from http://www.davidsongifted.org/Search-Database/entry/A10671
2. The Understood Team. (2014). The difference between IEPs and 504 plans. Retrieved July 20,
2016, from
https://www.understood.org/en/school-learning/special-services/504-plan/the-difference-between-ieps-and-504-plans
Amanda, that is great perspective that you share from your experience of teaching and being a parent. After reading your thoughts I was reminded of the readings that stress the involvement of the parents and how overwhelming the experience can be for them. I will take this into my teaching, knowing that when working with special education, accommodations and modifications it is truly a team effort with everyone at the school and at home.
ReplyDeleteAnother aspect that I lacked in my first experience was having someone come in and discuss my students 504/IEP plans with me when I began teaching. When I start the new school year, I am going to ensure that someone sits down with me and works with me on what is expected from me. I felt a little lost this year an while I tried to meet all my students needs, I am sure that some accommodations were lost. I think it is important as new teachers that we receive on the job specific training for IEP's and 504's. It is honestly the best way we can help our students.
DeleteAmanda, I also find your experience interesting because I myself am not a parent but I had a family friend in NY who had a very difficult time with getting services for her son. After the reading I think that the parents role is just as important as the teachers role. I very much hope that I can be a good influence for my students when it comes to making motifications. The reading has also given me a different perspective on how difficult it must be for students who do not have involved parents.
ReplyDeleteDani - what I find most troubling is the group of parents that want to be involved but simply cannot because of the commitments they need to make in order to provide for their children. I fear that some students fall through the cracks, so to speak, because their parent is unable to advocate for them. This was the case when my husband was in school and partially why he eventually dropped out. He had two parents that worked a lot in order to provide for their family. They noticed that parents that were able to come up to school regularly had more successful school experiences for their children. Those who were not able to make it up to the school had students that dropped out and suffered in their educational experiences.
DeleteAmanda, I think that is a really good point. A guy that I was seeing in high school was almost the same way. He finished, and graduated, but by skating by. I think if his parents had been able to be more involved and not had to work so much that he would have cared more and done more.
ReplyDelete