Before You Go: Create Your Binder

Create a 3-ring binder, preferably two inches or larger, and make sure to buy a three-hole punch.

When?

You can start it the minute you start suspecting that your child might have special needs, but it’s never too late to make one.

Why?

Your binder can be your best friend. The reason for a binder is two-fold. First, it helps you organize all the paperwork you have. You will wind up with a lot of paperwork. Second, it makes you feel better. Knowing where everything is in your binder gives you a boost of competence. There’s no scrambling around or questioning yourself. It’s in there, and you know where it is.

You might – and probably will – find that one binder isn’t enough. Go for the big one and be ready to buy more. We could easily fill a binder a year.

How?

Buy a binder, folders, section dividers, and a three-hole punch. Fill the binder with the most current evaluation, IEPs (current draft and finished ones), IDEA manual, FAPE, Autism Supplement, yearly “my page,” your own notes (see “Before you go – take notes”).

Every time you are given new information, send an email, receive an email, or even jot down notes from a phone call, include it in the binder. You never know when you’ll need it.

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