Student Orientation

As soon as possible and BEFORE school starts the following needs to be done so your child can transition to the new school year smoothly and without any problems. I do this EVERY year with my son and it really helps him adjust to the school surroundings, personnel, and new class schedule. I add this list to my son’s IEP each year so the IEP Team knows what I will be doing with my son and what they must do.

*If the IEP team says you cannot add this document to the IEP, they are not correct. IDEA considers the parent input to the meeting as important. Therefore you can request that the Parent Attachment (what is below) be included as part of your official input to the official IEP document.


1. Provide daily visual/written class schedule(s) for Student.

2. Provide a walk-through of the Student’s daily schedule. In schools where the schedule changes from day to day, the student should have the opportunity to practice all possible schedules several times.

3. Practice route(s) from various classes to the bathroom, counselor’s office, home base, locker, etc.

4. Meet all teachers and relevant personnel.

5. Obtain books for home use.

6. Place to store books in classroom.

7. Provide Student with names of all teachers and relevant personnel in binder (you can take pictures and post them in the binder).

8. Show Student where his assigned seat in each classroom will be.

9. Obtain agenda book to put in Student’s binder.

10. Obtain school rules and explain to Student.

11. Obtain school supplies list.

12. Obtain locker by home base and put dial barrel type lock on it. Practice with lock.

13. Bus procedures written up and explained to Student.

14. Cafeteria procedures written up and explained to Student.

15. Student will meet school personnel whom he can approach during the lunch period when encountering problems.

16. Show Student where he will sit in the lunchroom.

17. Practice routines such as finding homeroom from the bus stop, opening locker, going through the cafeteria line, etc.

18. Procedure for leaving class and going to the bathroom written up and explained to Student.

19. Obtain gym locker near adult supervision and put dial barrel type lock on it. Practice with lock.

20. Practice dressing out for P.E. (obtain gym clothes).

21. Student will meet safe person and visit home base.

22. The procedure for seeking out the safe person and home base written up and explained to Student.

23. The Travel Pass and the procedure of it’s use explained, written up, and given to Student before school starts. (Have time limit on use).

24. Obtain bus driver’s name, bus number, where bus stop is, and what time pick up and drop off is. Be sure bus driver knows that student is to sit directly behind him. Provide the bus driver information on the specific behavioral and emotional concerns of Student.

25. Show Student where he will eat lunch that is in a quiet place away from the lunch room (if Student eats at an alternative place).