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Dec 25, 2009, 9:46pm

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Central Florida Parent Center :: Parents :: Collaboration vs. Confrontation :: Creating Collaborative Partnerships - TIPS
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AuthorTopic: Creating Collaborative Partnerships - TIPS (Read 242 times)
diane
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Creating Collaborative Partnerships - TIPS
« Thread Started on May 29, 2008, 9:49am »
Hey All,

I thought it would be fun to have a thread where we could all post information and ideas about creating collaborative partnerships.

SO....here we go!

There is a website that offers lots and lots of cool information to parents as they advocate for their children. I hope you will all take a look!

One of the articles on the website is about Writing a Portrait of Your Child for sharing with any persons that are in contact with your child during the school day. This document is especially useful at IEP meetings as it helps to keep the team focused on the child!!

Writing "A Portrait"

Writing what amounts to a portrait of your child is a powerful tool for parents to use. Such a document can help keep the team directed towards your child's strengths, weaknesses, and educational needs. It is important to get your child front and center quickly at an IEP meeting. By reading your “Portrait” at the very beginning of the meeting you will immediately see the focus shift to its appropriate place, the needs of your child.

Benefits for both parents and the district.

Such parent documentation can help keep districts in compliance with the law, since all information, including parent input, is to be carefully considered. Since parents are equal participants, a written record of parent input can clarify issues and concerns, and reduce the level of confusion sometimes present at a meeting. Parents can request that this document becomes part of their official parent input to the meeting by making that request in writing, at the end of their “Portrait". Districts have been very cooperative in this effort to see that parent input is treated as equal in importance to district minutes.

The full article can be viewed at: http://www.specialneedsadvocate.com/write_a_portrait.htm

Time consuming? Yes!
Beneficial? Absolutely! :-)
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Dance as if no one were watching.......Sing as if no one were listening.......And live every day as if it were your last.
ashleysmom
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Re: Creating Collaborative Partnerships - TIPS
« Reply #1 on Jul 4, 2008, 9:04am »
Excellent reading

http://www.directionservice.org/pdf/Steps%20to%20Success1.4pg.pdf
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Anna Cocetta Brynild
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Re: Creating Collaborative Partnerships - TIPS
« Reply #2 on Aug 6, 2008, 7:16pm »
Thank you for sharing this and I can tell you that I have tried the tips ;)
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diane
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Re: Creating Collaborative Partnerships - TIPS
« Reply #3 on Aug 26, 2009, 9:16pm »
To graciesgrandma.....

I sure do hope you come back and share which tips you have tried!

Were they helpful??

Share! Share! Share! :)
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Dance as if no one were watching.......Sing as if no one were listening.......And live every day as if it were your last.
sarah
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Re: Creating Collaborative Partnerships - TIPS
« Reply #4 on Aug 27, 2009, 9:04pm »
I agree 100%. Often the people who are reviewing your child's IEP have little to no daily interaction with him or her, and therefore, have no idea who your child is, what his/her abilities and challenges really are, and how your child can best be served by the district/school/institution in question.

As a parent of a now 12 year old with an IEP from age 3, I can't stress enough, in conversation with other parents, how important it is for you, as a parent, to be informed, and on top of your child's abilities, needs, and even the services available in your area. When it comes to advocacy, no one is better qualified than those whose names are followed with , Mother and ,Father...

(which leads me to my own thread posting here, as we are considering a move to central Florida...)

sarah
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diane
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Re: Creating Collaborative Partnerships - TIPS
« Reply #5 on Sept 9, 2009, 10:39am »
Hi Sarah,

You wrote that you may be relocating to Florida. Where would you be moving to?

I suggest that you have plenty of conversation with the district personnel in the county that you are thinking of moving to. ;D

In my opinion, the more ongoing conversation that parents have with the people that provide services to their children, the smoother the whole IEP process goes! :)

I sure wouldn't leave my son with a babysitter that I don't know much about - why would school personnel be any different? LOL
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Dance as if no one were watching.......Sing as if no one were listening.......And live every day as if it were your last.
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