Answered:  September 29, 2014 by Dr. Sidney Baker

Here is a form you can use to input your Individualized Education Program (IEP) information for your child's school. I would encourage you to enter not only your child’s academic strengths and special skills but any and all strengths and special skills. You can check Autism360 for a drop-down listing items that you may wish to tell the school about.

Parent IEP Input Form

Date:  __________________________

To the Parent(s)/Guardians of  _______________________________________

It is time to evaluate the progress your child has made this year and to begin the planning process for next year.   Your input is very important in developing a plan that is right for your child.  Using your responses and information from the child, and his/her teachers a rough draft of the IEP will be created for use as a basis for discussion at the IEP meeting.

Please complete this information sheet and return it to ____________________________________ by _____________________________.  If you need additional space, feel free to attach another sheet of paper.  Thank you.

1.  What do you see as your child’s successes this school year?

2.  What are his/her academic strengths and other special skills or abilities?

3.  What are the areas of weakness that you have noted?

4.  Are there other concerns, such as social skills or behavioral issues?

5.  Consider your child’s organizational skills and study skills.  Do they seem appropriate for his/her grade level?  Does your child have difficulty with homework assignments?

6.  List any classroom modifications or accommodations that seem helpful to your child.

7.  Do you feel that accommodations will be needed if standardized tests are taken during the school year?

8.  Is there any type of classroom that might be better for your child’s learning style or self-image?  (Examples might include the need for a highly structured environment, emphasis on hands-on learning, or preference for group work).

9.  What helps your child to learn?  (For example:  enjoys projects, needs things read to him/her, needs time limits).

10.  Does your child wear prescription glasses/contact lenses, hearing aides, or other assistive devices?

11.  Does your child currently take disability related medication?  If so, please list the name of the prescription, the dosage, and when it is taken.

12.  Please use the space below to list any other comments or concerns that you may have.

Below, here’s a list of various strengths and special skills that Autism360 members have picked:

1. Ability to memorize (photographic memory)
2. Ability to persevere
3. Ability to see other  people perspective
4. Ability to infer
5. Ability to inhibit self
6. Academics good
7. Accepts new clothes
8. Affectionate
9. Answers parent
10. Art - drawing
11. Art - painting
12. Art - sculpting| modeling
13. Balance
14. Behavior normal
15. Behavior ok with parent
16. Bold| free of fear
17. Brave
18. Cartoons
19. Comedy / Jokes
20. Cuddly
21. Draws accurate pictures
22. Especially attractive (cherubic) as an infant
23. Especially Bright
24. Fine Motor dexterity
25. Follows instructions
26. Good appetite
27. Good at math
28. Good at public speaking
29. Good athlete
30. Good attention/focus
31. Good awareness
32. Good behavior at school
33. Good communication
34. Good comprehension
35. Good diet
36. Good expressive language
37. Good focus
38. Good handwriting
39. Good imitation of gestures
40. Good language skills
41. Good logic or judgment
42. Good long term memory
43. Good memory
44. Good play skills
45. Good receptive language
46. Good self-awareness
47. Good self-help skills
48. Good sense of time
49. Good short term memory
50. Good social interaction
51. Good spontaneous speech
52. Good swimmer
53. Good visual fixation
54. Good visual memory
55. Good vocabulary
56. Good with the computer
57. Gymnastics
58. Happy
59. Honest
60. Imagination
61. Joint Attention
62. Knows colors
63. Knows numbers
64. Language skills
65. Like to be held
66. Likes to be swaddled
67. Loyal
68. Mechanical assembly (putting things together)
69. Mechanical disassembly (taking things apart)
70. Mellow personality
71. Memory - melody
72. Memory - music lyrics
73. Memory - names
74. Memory - numbers
75. Memory - places
76. Minimal distractibility
77. Musical
78. Notice everything
79. OK if parents leave
80. Perfect musical pitch
81. Persistent
82. Physical Ability (gross motor)
83. Physically coordinated
84. Physically strong
85. Planning ability
86. Pleasant/easy to care for
87. Posture Good
88. Problem  Solving Ability
89. Problem solving skills
90. Pronounces words well
91. Reach out to be held
92. Reading
93. Responsible
94. Sensitive to people's feelings
95. Sensitive to peoples feelings
96. Sensitive/affectionate
97. Singing
98. Skill: doing fine work
99. Skill: playing/small object
100. Skill: throw/catch ball
101. Special Interest in Airplanes
102. Special Interest in Animals
103. Special Interest in Cars
104. Strong will/desire to do things
105. Tidy
106. Trains
107. Unusual memory
108. Very good eye contact
109. Visual-spatial strengths
110. Want to be liked