Ashely Marie 2m 554
The views of this article are the perspective of the author and may not be reflective of Confessions of the Professions.
No two people are exactly alike. Even those who are twins have some small differences that allow others to determine who is who. However, there is one common thread that binds the entire human race together: our desire to be successful in life. Success is measured in many different ways by each person who is striving for something in their lives, big or small. In order to achieve our goals, we must all be given a chance for success. Able-bodied people may find that this chance comes rather easily to them. Members of the disabled community, though, may find their path is not quite as easy, although it can be as rewarding if not more so than their able-bodied counterparts.
Creating a Plan
Proper prior planning prevents headaches now and in the future. Whether you are planning for a short term project or looking at a more long term situation, plans can serve as important guides to help keep you focused on your end goal.
Short term plans are good for projects at school or at work.
Long term planning tends to be more involved and often involves gathering information and input from multiple sources outside of your family. This is a situation where it is okay to ask others for their help and opinions. When you are working on a plan for a disabled family member, no matter their age, there are even more sources you may need to consider. Beyond their medical needs, you will need to address other situations such as education to make sure they can be as successful as possible in all areas of life.
A Focus on Education
Every student deserves a chance at success! Students with disabilities are likely to face challenges some of their counterparts may not. However, with the proper planning every student will be given the best opportunity at success possible.
The first step in this process is creating an Individualized Education Plan or IEP for each student. The writing of this legal document will often involve many members of a team coming together with the best interest of the student in mind. The document will lay a foundation for goals to be reached during the school year as well as the path taken to reach them, including listing any accommodations that may be needed.
Creating an environment for success is also important. Elements of this environment are often determined by the IEP. They may include changing up the student’s class schedule or determining what type of learning situation is best. They may also include employing the use of adaptive learning technology that is designed for success. As the world of technology continues to evolve, new additions are made every day, including apps. Adaptive learning apps have been designed for parents and teachers to become more involved by following their student’s progress throughout the school year.
Adaptive learning can take on many forms depending on the needs of each student. If you feel that your child can benefit from this type of environment, contact their school to learn more about the options available to them. Be an advocate and create that chance for success!
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Ashely is part of a team of writers that enjoys writing about education. Check out her Twitter @ashelymarie1985 to see more.