Special Education Para Professionals; Could Your Child Benefit?

Do you have a young child with autism that you would like to see placed in a regular education classroom, but may need support? Do you think that your child with PDD needs more support in the classroom, than they are currently receiving? This article will be discussing special education paraprofessionals, job descriptions and how they may be able to support your child in a regular classroom!
A Para professional is sometimes called an aide or an assistant. They are a person who is trained to help teachers in a classroom. This person is not a teacher and cannot teach children, but can assist a highly qualified teacher, with academics in a classroom setting, according to No Child Left Behind. Paraprofessionals can help children with schoolwork that is taught by a certified teacher or perform other duties in a classroom.
There are two types of these people in classrooms : those that help all children in the classroom that require extra help (usually called a classroom Para professional or assistant), and a Para Professional that works specifically with one child while they are in a classroom (a 1-1 Para professional or assistant) If you think that your child needs a 1-1 full time assistant to assist them in the classroom, make sure that this is written in your child's Individual Educational Plan (IEP). For Example: ____ will have a 1-1 full time trained Para professional whenever ____ is in the regular classroom setting.
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) states that Para professionals are: consistent with State approved or State licensing requirements. To find what the licensing requirements are in your state for this position call your State Department (or Board) of Education. In my State of Illinois a Para professional must have a high school diploma and have completed some college.
If your child has a specific disability such as autism, you have the right to request additional training for the person that works with your child. Be specific in your request for training, for a Para professional that will work with your child. Investigate and find the training yourself that you think would be appropriate, specify the amount of training in your child's IEP, where the training will be received, and when the training needs to be completed. For Example: Training for Para professional will include 18 hours of autism conferences (Introduction to Autism Education 8 hours and Introduction to Positive Behavioral Supports and Plans 8 hours) held by our states Parent Training and Information Center (PTIC). The training is to be completed by August the 15 of this year since school will start on August 17th. School agrees to have a trained Para professional working with my child; and if the person does not complete the training the school agrees to find a trained person to replace the untrained one.
The duties will differ according to the child. Here is a list of some things that they may do:
1. Help child complete academic assignments.
2. Help keep the child focused on school work, and will redirect as needed.
3. Breaks down academic assignments so that the child may understand it more.
4. Act as a writer of assignments, if the child is unable to write.
5. Teach child appropriate social skills, and also encourage the child to interact with their peers.
6. Help with positive behavioral support for negative behavior.
7. Help with any physical needs that the child has (toileting, help with eating lunch etc).
8. Help child with transitions from activity to activity.
9. Help child when group assignments are given, so that they can be active participants.
In my 20 years as an educational advocate I have met many Para professionals; some good some not! If you think that your child needs an assistant in order to benefit from their education then bring it up at their next IEP meeting! Good Luck!

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