Helping Parents And Caregivers Get IEPs For Their Autistic Children in Kawartha Lakes
Making Kawartha Lakes a more accessible, supportive, and welcoming place for people with autism — and the people who love them.
Are you wondering what an IEP is? Click HERE to read the blog.
IEPs Help Make School An Autism-Friendly Space
Autism Resources Kawartha (ARK) is a local autism advocacy and awareness group committed to creating helpful, relatable content for you: the parents, caregivers and loved ones of people with autism. We’re also passionate about making Kawartha Lakes and the surrounding areas more accessible, supportive and welcoming for people with autism and the people who care for them. That means supporting parents and caregivers through the IEP application process to secure the accommodations and supports their autistic child needs to enjoy an autism-friendly school experience.
Making School Accessible For Autistic Children In Kawartha Lakes
For many autistic kids, school is an overwhelming experience. The crowded spaces, loud hallways, and complex social situations, coupled with the expectation to perform and keep up, are the perfect storm of triggers for an autistic child. Without the proper support in place, many autistic kids get left behind and miss out on the social and academic experience.
ARK believes that school should be accessible to everyone, including people with autism. And, with an Individualized Education Program (IEP), some planning and some thoughtful accommodations, it can be. That’s why ARK is proud to support parents and caregivers as they apply for an IEP for their autistic child at schools in Kawartha Lakes and the surrounding area.
Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) Redefine Success For Autistic Kids In School
The fact is, public schools were not built with autistic children in mind. The physical environment, the daily schedule and even the curriculum are all barriers to learning and social engagement for many autistic kids. But with the right supports in place, your autistic child can thrive at school.
An IEP is one of the first steps parents and caregivers need to take to make school more autism-friendly for their kid. From re-targeting learning goals and modifying expectations to implementing sensory supports and occupational therapies, an IEP helps to carve out a place for your autistic child at school.
Unfortunately, the process of getting an IEP can feel like a slog. For schools and parents or caregivers, there are hoops to jump through and a whole lot of paperwork to complete. If you’ve never done it before, it can be an overwhelming experience. The team at ARK is here to help. We have first-hand experience navigating this process and can be there to guide you through.
Answer your questions about IEPs and the application process
Help connect you with local professionals as needed
Help you decipher and complete the required paperwork
Accompany you to IEP meetings in person or virtually as a support person or advocate
To learn more about how ARK can help support you through the IEP application process, contact us. Someone will be happy to answer your questions and schedule a time to talk.
Committed to making local Kawartha Lakes schools accessible to the autistic community.
Are you trying to get an IEP for your child in Kawartha Lakes or the surrounding area? We want to help you navigate the process so your autistic kid can enjoy a safe, supportive and welcoming school experience.
Talk to us about how we can support you while you work to secure an IEP for your child. We’re here to help.