Back-to-School Toolkit: What You Need for Day 1
Create an IEP at a glance
At the start of the school year, teachers are incredibly busy and may not take the time to read your child’s entire IEP right away. You can make sure they prioritize your kid’s most important support needs by creating an IEP at a glance. This one- or two-page document briefly explains your child’s strengths, where they need support, and their most important goals.
Check out our template that you can use to make your own “All About Me” for teachers and school therapists. This template also includes a space to include your vision statement, your child’s strengths, what they’re working on, and what teachers need to know about working with them. It’s a wealth of knowledge that teachers will be able to refer to quickly!
Schedule a campus orientation tour
Create a visual schedule for the new school routine
Make sure your kid is ready for day one
To avoid the morning rush on that first day of school, create a list of items that your kid will need to bring, and get those items ready in advance. Run down the list again as you send your kiddo out the door to make sure nothing is forgotten! Here are some ideas to get your back-to-school checklist started:
- Regular medications, including any paperwork required by the school with your child’s doctor’s signature
- Emergency medications, such as those for a food allergy or seizure, also including any paperwork signed by your child’s doctor
- Extras of supplies your kid might need or run out of, like a change of clothes, face masks, glasses cord and cleaning cloth, motivational items to provide sensory support and encourage good behavior, a pillow for positioning or safety (seizures), or hearing aid batteries. Check out this list put together by Undivided parents for additional ideas!