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Students with learning disabilities face social challenges in education. This is because these students generally need extra help, support and supervision by professionals. The good thing is that there are inclusive programs and special education services they can be eligible to avail of. One of them is an individualised education program (IEP). This program is offered for free to families of kids in public schools.
To better understand IEPs, their benefits and how to maximise this opportunity for students with special education needs, to achieve success in this area, we’ve listed down important facts in this article. Let’s continue reading!
IEP 101
IEP is a program or plan that is designed to make sure that children with identified disabilities who are currently attending elementary/primary or secondary educational institutions obtain specialised instruction and relevant educational services.
A group of individuals from various disciplines, the child with a learning disability and their family members together develop the IEP program (or plan) that will work best for the child. More than just a legal plan, IEP's map lays out the special education instruction program aimed at supporting children that need to make learning progress and thrive in school. This is, indeed, the cornerstone of quality education for children with learning disabilities.
Children eligible for IEP include those with:
Learning disabilities
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
Intellectual disability
Autism
Emotional disorders
Developmental delay
Sensory impairment (hearing, speech, and/or visual)
IEP: A great solution for students with special needs
Let’s dive deep into the benefits of IEP and why parents or guardians of children with special educational needs should consider the program...
1. Offers an opportunity for educational success
Many children with special needs are at a disadvantage in traditional learning setup, considering the possible lack of tools and facilities, environment, learning processes, specialists and services that can facilitate inclusive learning.
While they are capable of learning success, these children usually don’t learn the same way. The good news is, with IEP, children with special educational needs are provided an alternative route, that has quality programs tailored to their individual needs.
2. Enables educational advancement
IEP provides greater opportunities for educational advancement. This is because teachers are highly equipped to understand their students’ progress, if they are excelling or failing and the adjustments that need to be made.
Likewise, parents can clearly see how their child’s learning process is going - while students can learn in a way that unleashes the best in them. Such benefits enable students to steadily advance in their education.
3. Has a reliable structure
Parents or guardians can also remain at peace with an IEP, as the program enables everyone involved to know what to expect every day, how they are going to be taught and what goals they should aim for. With a clear, individualised plan, parents can also be at ease knowing that the educators undertake a proven route to educational success for their students.
IEP is covered by special education law. In the US for example, it is the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). With this, parents can be assured that IEP is solidified and legally supported.
4. Involves a concrete plan of action
Everyone involved can clearly see the next steps in the student’s educational journey. There are also specific action items given to the child with special learning needs, parents and teachers. This means that it is clear to everyone how they are expected to contribute. If you are a parent or teacher, keeping a daily task tracker will help you visualise the plans or action items to follow and complete.
5. Focuses on measurable goals
Undeniably, vague goals or the ones that are too broad are difficult to track and measure. Ideally, goals are broken down into smaller components, so those children with special needs can easily reach those goals and feel a sense of accomplishment and confidence as a result.
With IEP, goals set are SMART goals: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Timely. These goals explain what a child needs to aim for in detail and provide realistic time frames to achieve them.
6. Delivers quality education
IEP clarifies what everyone should expect. It provides the benefit of quality, knowing that it is required to meet education standards and must be implemented or carried out by trained professionals. For students, they can count on their teachers as they profoundly understand their special needs and are committed to ensuring their educational success.
7. Is holistic and strength-based
IEPs are holistic and strength-based in nature. As part of the eligibility assessment processes, children are assessed based on how they do, as well as their areas of strength. During the actual learning phase, students are also taught through different, holistic approaches - ones that work well with them.
The program is also unique, as it does not only focus on a child’s academic growth. Social-emotional goals, like building empathy skills, acknowledging or regulating emotions and building peer relationships are all equally important. These also usually accompany academic goals for guaranteed holistic learning.
8. Ensures individual student care
Another important benefit of IEP is individualised student care. With individualised care, more focused performance assessments and one-on-one time between students and teachers, the needs of these children can be met and meticulously addressed, one by one. When these students also have concerns, teachers can recognise and recommend effective action plans to resolve them efficiently.
Final thoughts
With individualised education programs, parents or guardians can rest easier, knowing that children with special learning needs are given personalised, tailored learning plans, that can help them achieve their full potential and attain educational success.