I believe the projected demand for support in schools is too low and teachers
and schools need much more support. I believe my children’s teachers are doing
the best they can with the resources and information they have, but in my
personal experience most education staff need further training and at regular
intervals in special needs and in Ross Greene’s CPS. Class sizes need to be
smaller to give teachers time with each student. The focus in IEPs and BMPs is
always on what to do after the child has escalated due to dysregulation. I am
trying, along with therapists, to encourage the teachers to focus on triggers
and self-regulation to prevent dysregulation escalating in the first place.
Rewards and punishments don’t work for every child, but it seems to be used in
every single task. A specialist teacher, at a school we decided not to enrol
in, said she doesn’t worry about lEP’s, as all the kids should be doing the
same work in the same way with no extra accommodations. This teacher needs
further education to support all her students aged 6-14. I am very appreciative
that my children’s school supports our therapists attending school visits and
asks questions and are engaged with our therapists but I know of lots of
schools that make this difficult. The teachers are the best person in
education, but they need to work with the therapists who have the best
knowledge surrounding their field of expertise, wether that is psychology,
physio, speech, OT, to name a few, so that everyone can have a safe and happy
place to work and play and our children can be curious and learn.