Thoughts

As a new calendar year begins, we often focus on personal goals, but let's look at how to make the rest of the school year even better for your child in inclusion.

Communicate with teachers. If your child has speech challenges, send a written note telling who you visited over the holidays. Share details of favorite aunts, uncles and cousins to make it easier for your child's teacher to understand his stories. Tell about the favorite gift or trip to the movies to see High School Musical. When you share this kind of information, you increase the opportunity for your child's teacher to communicate with him or her. At the same time, peers will hear about the similarities, not the differences between themselves and your child. These simple interactions will increase expectations and help your child fit in.