Special needs IEP binder

How to make a special needs IEP (individual education plan) binder for your child or children. If you are a special needs family, I’m sure you know how important it is to be organized when it comes to the paperwork and documentation for your child. When my oldest was starting off in her journey of the special needs journey of regular doctor visits and therapy appointments, I was given the priceless gift of a binder. I don’t recall the exact organization that gave me the what they called “blue navigation binder”. I still have it and in is filled like bursting with the early day documentation for my daughter. I haven’t read those files in years, but I’ve kept them as a reference in case I ever need to review those.

Fast forward to today and I’ve made a pink IEP binder for Athena. In it are the following: her most recent IEP, introductory letter, therapy evaluations, all school personnel contact information and communication log, report cards, progress reports, awards for academic achievement, recent academic work, and any other important paperwork for my daughter.

The sole purpose of the binder is to serve as an organization and informative tool about my daughter. This binder is helpful for any meetings with the school (ARD, REED, transitional ARD, informal meetings), any doctor appointments (to share with her primary care physician any updated information, to show any therapist that have or will work with her).

Below are pictures of my daughter’s personal IEP binder. Personal information has been covered and protected for her privacy.

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How to make an IEP binder for your child

Materials:

·        1 three ring binder (1-3 inches) Bigger typically works better but choose whichever size works best for your family

·        1 pack of Loose leaf notebook paper (I personally like college ruled due to having more lines to write)

·        1 pack of tab dividers (5 tabs is fine)

·        1 picture of your child (to put on the front cover of the binder)

Place all papers, dividers, and picture in the binder. Label each tab with their respective label. Some that I have are IEP, therapy, doctor, interests/extracurricular, misc. but you can label how you like. I like to add any professional that works with my daughter to a contact list and communication log sheet in the binder. It’s better to have things documented and written or typed up instead of relying on memory.

I wish you and your child the best and if you have any questions please reach out.

XO,
Minerva