Workshop for teachers - advice

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I have had horrible experiences having my child in a private school setting this school year. I completely understand what it is like when someone doesn't accommodated for a child who requires accommodations. It angers me.

I can do something about it. Not in his current school but in his school for next year. Since I work there, I can do a workshop regarding working with parents who have children with additional educational needs. This would include classroom accommodations within a general educational setting. If I am only complaining and not doing something about it, I am part of the problem. I am thankful that there are two wonderful special ed teachers who can help in this workshop. Parents love them as well.

I know many of you have had horrible experiences as well. What areas should I bring up in a workshop to teachers?

I wonder if I should also have a class for parents to learn more about the special ed process, their rights, how to be prepared at IEP meetings and what everything means?

Not sure how useful this would be in most cases, but I had trouble with people at IEP meetings and parent-teacher conferences expecting me to keep my kid's nose to the grindstone, or at least on task, as if it were irrelevant that I'm not only a mother with a full-time job, but an Aspie as well! Most days my full allotment of concentrating on what needs to be done and helping people to do it (I work with the public) had been exhausted by the time I got home. I had this issue all the way through his grade school and high school. It's hard enough to keep myself on task! Maybe just keep in mind that if the kid has AS or some other disability, there's a strong likelihood that the parent does, too.

(Actually, it was worse before the diagnosis. I remember, when it was clear there was some kind of problem but not what kind, it was more or less assumed it was clueless parenting or an attitude problem. I recall one meeting where there were about six edjamacators and me sitting around a round table. I went to the meeting because my kid was having problems and not functioning well in school. They spent an hour taking turns earnestly trying to impress upon me what I already knew, that he was weird and didn't do well in school! Who knows how much longer it would have gone on if I hadn't just said, I know that these are the problems, that is the reason I came here, what I want to know is what is to be done about them! And nobody had any answer for me.

Not long after that they had us take him to the school district's psychologist and not only did my son get diagnosed, I did too. )

I think the workshop for the parents is a fantastic idea.!

I just had a thought whilst typing this, I'm in Melbourne Australia and my saving grace at this new school has been regular coffee chat mornings, I wonder if you could set something up for the parents and then teachers could take it in turns to be there (or a teacher rep). Its a great way to find out info and share ideas.

Teachers need to understand WE the parents can find these kids difficult and a puzzle some times and we know them well, We have questions and not all the answers but we know them well. We honestly dont expect teachers to know it all so they have no need to be defensive, all I ask of teachers is that they keep an open mind and open lines of communication. We as parents are more than willing to suport them teach our kids but we all need to be one the same team.

Ooops now I'm waffling.