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When the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) was reauthorized in 2004 by President George Bush, resolution meetings became a mandatory part of due process. The school district must hold a resolution meeting within 15 days after you have filed for due process. Essentially, a resolution session is like mediation, but there is no neutral third party present. Its purpose is to discuss the complaint and to negotiate an agreement.
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Sometimes, even the most verbally hesitant child will launch into his favorite song without a second thought. Music truly is a universal language, whether you’re singing “Old MacDonald Had a Farm” or picking out some elegant harp arrangements for your walk down the aisle. And because music is so highly portable, it makes an excellent tool for speech therapy sessions on the road or wherever your summer vacation takes you. Sing favorite nursery rhymes with your child on car trips. As well, check out some of our recommended singing apps for your iPad or iPhone.
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When your child has an Individualized Education Program (IEP), he has a support structure within the school. He likely has speech therapy sessions with the school speech-language pathologist (SLP), he may have a one-on-one aide in the classroom, and he may have other accommodations as well. But what happens when he leaves school? As your child grows into a young adult and nears graduation age, you may start to worry about how he’ll handle the outside world with a speech disorder. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) provides for transition services, which are intended to facilitate independent living and post-secondary education, if applicable.
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Conducting your own investigative work and research is vital – whether you’re an astrophysicist, a keynote speaker, or a parent of a child with a speech disorder or delay. In this digital age, “research” is often synonymous with “Google.” There are certainly a number of excellent digital resources about speech and communication issues, but don’t forget about print resources. Lace up your walking shoes and head over to your local library to look for some of the following notable reads. The more you learn about your child’s speech disorder and communication issues in general, the more you will be able to help him improve his skills. If your friendly neighborhood librarian can’t find these books on her shelves, ask if your library participates in an interlibrary loan program or check a local university library.
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Much like parenting, speech therapy efforts are continuous. Your child will best advance his skills when his day-to-day routines are full of activities and conversations intended to boost his speech and language. But sometimes we could all use a change of scenery. If your child is bored to tears with flashcards, take speech therapy outside. Summer activities readily lend themselves to speech therapy activities. Children love playing games in the pool instead of just swimming laps, for example. Turn poolside activities into a fun speech therapy session. Your child might resist working on his “s” sounds inside at his desk, but he might happily practice them outside while splashing in the pool.
