The topic of this blog’s February 16 post was 7 Ways to Advocate for Your Child in the Health Care Community. A few days later Cassandra Sines left a comment about an All About Me notebook she uses to be proactive at her children’s school. What she described sounded so fascinating, I emailed her and asked if she would chat on the phone about her creation. Our talk was so enlightening and her suggestions so practical, sharing them with you is a real treat.
Resources for Parents of Children with Bipolar Disorder
The two children Cassandra and her husband adopted have behavioral conditions that impact their school experiences. You can read more about their lives at their blog, Life with Two Special Needs Children. Their son was diagnosed with bipolar disorder at a young age, and Cassandra used online resources and support groups to educate herself. One of the greatest resources she found was the Child & Adolescent Bipolar Association. Through it she located both the idea for her son’s notebook and a parent support group. The experiences of other parents in the support group have been a rich source of information and practical tips.
Advice for Parents of School-Aged Children with Behavior Disorders
Cassandra had some practical, easy-to-implement advice for parents of special needs children in the public school system. Here are things she does to be proactive:
- She updates her son’s All About Me notebook each summer a month or two before the new school year begins. She takes it to the school and personally delivers it to his teachers two weeks before school begins. That way the teachers have time to look over the book and ask questions.
- A week before school starts, she takes her son to school for a tour. They walk around the building and meet the teachers.
- Cassandra says parents should be open and honest with teachers. Don’t be ashamed of your child’s needs and behaviors. Lay everything out and say, “This is where we’re at. I need all the help you can offer,” to the educators. Let school staff know you are available when they need help and information, too.
- Pray for all the people who are part of your child’s day: the teachers, para-professionals, bus drivers, lunch room staff and so on. Cassandra says, “Without prayer and God’s intervention, things don’t work.”
- Since her children are still in elementary school, she doesn’t yet have advice about how to negotiate secondary school. She recommends visiting the Child & Adolescent Bipolar Association website as it addresses the needs of adolescents.
All About Me Notebook
In the next post in this series, the nuts and bolts of Cassandra’s All About Me notebook will be outlined and the different pages will be available for you to download and adapt for your child’s situation. Until then, please leave comments about resources you use. And if you have advice for parents of kids with special needs in secondary school, let us know!
How to Be a Proactive Parent at School: Part 2
How to Be a Proactive Parent at School: Part 3
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