The Cochlear Implant School Toolkit

Parents

Preparing for School-Entry

This section includes information on how to prepare your child, the school, and yourself for school-entry.

Mini-course 1: Gathering information for school-entry
This mini-course describes the information you should collect from others and share with your child's school prior to the start of the school year. It includes the following information sheet:

• Information Sheet: My Child's Strengths and Challenges - which provides an at-a-glance description of your child's language and literacy strengths and challenges

Mini-course 2: Preparing your child for school-entry
This mini-course describes strategies to help you assist your child with the development of self-advocacy and social skills. It includes the following information sheet:

• Information Sheet: Developing my child's self-advocacy skills - which describes strategies to help your child advocate for himself or herself in the classroom
  

Mini-course 3: Working with the school
This mini-course explains how to work with school officials to establish an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) or Section 504 plan, and how to prepare for your initial meetings with school officials and your child's future teacher. It includes the following information sheets:

• Information Sheet: Creating an effective IEP team - which outlines who should be a member of your child's IEP team
• Information Sheet: My Child's Strengths and Challenges - which provides an at-a-glance description of your child's language and literacy strengths and challenges
• Information Sheet: Conducting a sound test - which details the steps involved in conducting the Ling Six Sound Test
• Information Sheet: Troubleshooting a nonfunctional cochlear implant - which covers solutions to the more common cochlear implant malfunctions
• Information Sheet: Arranging a classroom for a child with a cochlear implant - which explains simple steps you should discuss with your child's teachers to create a better listening environment for your child
  
• Information Sheet: Working with an interpreter - which explains to your child's teacher what he or she should expect if your child needs an interpreter

Mini-course 4: Final preparation for school-entry
This mini-course provides information to help you complete follow-up and last-minute tasks to ensure a more successful transition for your child.