{"id":141833,"date":"2024-08-21T15:59:12","date_gmt":"2024-08-21T19:59:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/raleigh\/?p=141833"},"modified":"2024-08-21T15:59:12","modified_gmt":"2024-08-21T19:59:12","slug":"starting-the-school-year-right-tips-for-advocating-for-your-child-with-down-syndrome","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/raleigh\/starting-the-school-year-right-tips-for-advocating-for-your-child-with-down-syndrome\/","title":{"rendered":"Starting the School Year Right: Tips for Advocating for Your Child with Down Syndrome"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As the school year kicks off, it\u2019s essential to ensure a positive start for your child with Down syndrome (Ds). As a mom and the Playhouse Operations Manager at GiGi\u2019s Playhouse, I know firsthand the importance of being an active participant in your child&#8217;s education. You are a crucial part of their IEP team, and effective collaboration can set the stage for a successful year. Here are some tips to help you advocate and work effectively with your child\u2019s educational team:<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/raleigh\/files\/2024\/08\/RAL-Soci-pic.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" src=\"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/raleigh\/files\/2024\/08\/RAL-Soci-pic.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-141835\" srcset=\"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/raleigh\/files\/2024\/08\/RAL-Soci-pic.jpg 600w, https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/raleigh\/files\/2024\/08\/RAL-Soci-pic-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Establish Consistent Communication<\/strong>: Keep the lines open between you and the school. Consider using a daily notebook or journal to track important updates and share insights with teachers.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Provide a One-Page Profile<\/strong>: On the first day, offer a one-page profile of your child. This helps teachers understand your child\u2019s strengths, needs, and preferences. Need help creating one? Email us at <a href=\"mailto:raleigh@gigisplayhouse.org\">raleigh@gigisplayhouse.org<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Monthly Updates<\/strong>: Send an email each month to the lead teacher outlining any progress or concerns you have observed. If issues arise, increase communication to address them promptly.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Face-to-Face Interaction<\/strong>: Whenever possible, drop off or pick up your child in person. This allows for direct interaction with teachers and peers, fostering stronger relationships.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Plan Social Events<\/strong>: Organize events like a back-to-school party or birthday celebration to help your child build social connections with classmates.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Educate Peers<\/strong>: With the teacher\u2019s permission, send a brief letter home with classmates to introduce them to Ds and to your child. This can promote understanding and acceptance.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Encourage Classroom Discussions<\/strong>: Consider reading a book about Ds or disabilities to the class and facilitating an open discussion. Need support in finding resources? Contact us at <a href=\"mailto:raleigh@gigisplayhouse.org\">raleigh@gigisplayhouse.org<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">By taking these steps, you not only support your child&#8217;s growth but can also build a strong, collaborative relationship with their educational team. Together, we can make this school year the best one yet!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For additional resources and support, don\u2019t hesitate to reach out to us at GiGi\u2019s Playhouse. We\u2019re here to help!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As the school year kicks off, it\u2019s essential to ensure a positive start for your child with Down syndrome (Ds). As a mom and the Playhouse Operations Manager at GiGi\u2019s Playhouse, I know firsthand the importance of being an active participant in your child&#8217;s education. You are a crucial part of their IEP team, and&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2417,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"wpo365_audiences":[],"wpo365_private":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[436,497,498,499],"tags":[444,464,487,501,448,500,502,503],"class_list":["post-141833","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-advocacy","category-iep","category-one-page-profile","category-school","tag-downsyndrome","tag-down-syndrome","tag-down-syndrome-acceptance","tag-education","tag-iep-process","tag-one-page-profile","tag-school","tag-special-education"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/raleigh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/141833","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/raleigh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/raleigh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/raleigh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2417"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/raleigh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=141833"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/raleigh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/141833\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/raleigh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=141833"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/raleigh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=141833"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gigisplayhouse.org\/raleigh\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=141833"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}