Special Education

Individual Education Planning for Students with Special Needs

PARTNERS IN THE PLANNING PROCESS

As team members contribute their perspectives and expertise in a collaborative way, they provide the information necessary for successful development and implementation of the IEP. Collaboration is particularly important at the secondary school level where students are in contact with many teachers, each focusing on a different subject area.

Key roles and responsibilities for IEP team members can be identified as follows:
IEP Coordinator
  • Organize and chair IEP meetings
  • Coordinate development of the student's IEP
  • Ensure that a process to monitor progress is established
  • Ensure that contact is maintained with outside agencies as required
  • Ensure that records of IEP meetings are kept and distributed to team members
  • Facilitate group decision making
Teacher(s)/Allied
Professionals
  • Assist in the development of the IEP
  • Initiate in-depth, systematic classroom observations and assessment
  • Share information collected during the "information gathering" stage
  • Plan and carry out instructional programs
  • Adapt instructional methods and materials and modify curriculum as required
  • Develop strategies for assessing and communicating student progress
  • Update and revise learning objectives
  • Develop and apply behaviour management strategies
  • Maintain ongoing communication with parents, and when appropriate, the student regarding concerns and progress
Student

The extent and way students participate in the development and implementation of their IEPs will vary according to their abilities. Most students can:

  • Express goals and dreams for themselves,
  • Indicate likes and dislikes,
  • Make suggestions about areas of interest.

When students are not able to communicate their ideas and wishes at a group meeting, their participation at the IEP meeting can assist team members to remain focused on the students' needs and the purpose of the meeting.

Parents
  • Express their goals and dreams for the student
  • Provide information on the student's learning styles, interests, reactions to situations and ways to avoid potential problems
  • Reinforce and extend the educational efforts of the teacher
  • Provide feedback on the transfer of skills to the home and community
  • Maintain an open line of communication with the school
Administrators
  • Participate in, provide support to and set expectations for the IEP Team
  • Work with the team to ensure that appropriate resources are secured to provide for the student's educational needs
  • Model acceptance of all students in the school and structure the environment so that each student and staff member is an accepted member of the school community
Teacher Assistants

Under the direction of the teacher:

  • Assist students
  • Assist with the adaptations of materials and instructional methods
  • Monitor and record progress toward individual goals
  • Problem-solve on the spot
  • Maintain ongoing communication with the teacher
  • Provide information on the student's learning styles, interests, reactions to situations and ways to avoid potential problems, when possible
  • Work with the Team to support the student's educational needs
Peers
  • Identify strengths and needs of the student
  • Indicate ways peers may be able to provide support
  • Participate in problem-solving as challenges arise in the classroom setting