by Joan Celebi, Ed.M., CLC
Founder, SpecialNeedsParentCoach.com

If you've been following my special needs back-to-school tips, you've accomplished quite a lot in the past few weeks: 

• You've been in close contact with the school your child will be attending.
• You've been preparing your child and your family for the transition to the new routine.
• You've been reviewing self-advocacy skills with your child.
• You've been shopping for the right clothes, shoes, backpack, lunchbox, school supplies, etc.

Now it's time to get organized!

1. Establish a home/school communication system that will work well for both you and your child's teacher(s).  Will communication take place daily, weekly, or monthly?  Email is convenient and quick, but you might also try a special notebook that goes to and from school in your child's backpack, a quick phone call to touch base on Wedesday afternoons, or a brief informal visit every other week for a face-to-face chat.  (All three examples are from actual successful experiences of parents and teachers of children with special needs.) 

2. Set up a homework spot.  Even if your child doesn't have homework yet, set up a special place in your home that's just for them and their books and papers.  Stock the area with a few nice pencils, some crayons, markers, etc.  Have your child help you if possible.  Kids like having a place all their own where they can do their work, whether it's a desk or simply a certain seat at the kitchen table.  Doing homework in the same place every night also makes it easier to enforce a school night routine.

3. Take the tags off the new clothes, and run any clothes through the laundry that need to be softened up a little.  Organize drawers and closets so your child can find and reach his or her own clothes and get dressed as independently as possible. 

4. Make the first few mornings as easy as possible.  Have your child help decide what he or she wants to wear on the first few days of school.  Pack the backpack with anything your child needs or wants to bring on the first day of school.  Have lunch ingredients prepared and ready to go.

5. Get all your special needs related documents together and in order.  I recommend the IEP Toolkit, available from www.Organized4Kids.com .  It makes keeping track of all those papers so much easier, you'll wonder how you lived without it!

6. Check the calendar before it gets too full.  Block out some "down time" into each day.  Make sure you're not overscheduling yourself, your children, or your family.  Hint: do this on the first day of each month!

7. Arrange closets, drawers, and shelves to be as accessible and kid-friendly as possible, so your child can reach his or her clothes and supplies with ease. This encourages independence for them, and makes things easier for you in the process!

And one more: 8. Congratulate yourself on a job well done.  Take some time to do something you enjoy doing.  You deserve a break -- Back to school time is hard work when you have a child with special needs.