How do I help my child reduce dependence on an aide?

Many kids with extensive support needs will need a paraprofessional to be included in a general education classroom. On the other hand, one common concern is increased dependence on an aide. Here are some ideas to reduce dependence on an aide:

• Ask for an independence plan with specific times during the day when the aide might fade support. This could be developed using an assessment (often called a SCIA).
• Ask about the aide’s training in behavior, instruction, etc. Inclusive Schooling provides a wonderful remote training program for paraprofessionals called Para-bytes, which you can request your school to fund.
• What kind of aide does your child have? Do they have a behavioral aide trained in behavior intervention when the child’s behavioral issue is primarily about communication? An aide trained in AAC use might be more appropriate.
• Could your child do well in a general education classroom with a shared aide? Many schools designated as model inclusion schools use a paraprofessional model that assigns the aide to the teacher, not the student — your child would still have adult support, but it may come from multiple adults during the day.