Parental Participation in the Assessment Process
Parental options, responsibilities, and expectations prior to an assessment for a suspected disability:
Parental options, responsibilities, and expectations prior to an assessment for a suspected disability:
- Parents may initiate the assessment process
- Parents must be notified by the school and give their consent before any initial evaluation of the child may be conducted
- Parents may wish to talk with the professional responsible for conducting the evaluation to find out what it will involve
- Parents may find it useful to become informed about assessment issues in general and any specific issues relevant to their child
- Parents should advocate for a comprehensive evaluation of their child
- Parents may suggest specific questions to the MDT they would like to see addressed through the assessment
- Parents should inform the MDT of any accommodations the child will need
- Parents should inform the MDT if they themselves need any accommodations
- Parents may prepare their child for the assessment process
- Parents need to share with the MDT their insights into the child's background
- Parents may wish to share with the MDT any prior school records
- Parents may need to share information about cultural differences
- Parents need to make every effort to attend interviews with the MDT that are set up and provide information about their child