A Parent's Guide to Supporting Kids with Learning Differences

Medically reviewed by Dr. Colleen Rusciolelli, Attending Physician in Lurie Children's Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics Division

The start of a new school year is exciting, but for parents of children with learning differences, it can also feel like the start of a new round of advocacy. New teachers, new classrooms, and sometimes new accommodations to establish all over again. The good news: with a little preparation before the first bell rings, you can set your child — and their teachers — up for a much smoother year. 

Here's how to walk into back-to-school season feeling prepared, not overwhelmed. 

Start with a Fresh Look at Your Child's Records 

Before the school year begins, pull together your child's most recent evaluations, Individualized Education Program (IEP), or 504 Plan. Ask yourself: 

• Is the information still accurate? Kids change over a summer, sometimes significantly.
• Are there new strengths, challenges or diagnoses that should be reflected in the plan?
• Did your child meet the goals set last year, or do those goals need to be revised? 

If it's been a while since your child's last full evaluation, summer is a good time to schedule one. Many pediatricians and school psychologists get booked quickly once the school year starts. 

Request a Meeting Before the First Day 

Don't wait for the first parent-teacher conference to introduce yourself and your child's needs. Reach out to the teacher, case manager or special education coordinator a few weeks before school starts and ask for a brief meeting or call. Use this time to: 

• Share what's worked well in the past (and what hasn't)
• Walk through the accommodations in the IEP or 504 Plan in plain language
• Ask how progress will be communicated throughout the year
• Introduce your child's personality, interests and strengths — not just their diagnosis 

Teachers appreciate context. A one-page "About My Child" summary covering learning style, triggers, calming strategies and motivators can be a simple but powerful tool to leave behind. 

Build Your Advocacy Toolkit 

Keep a simple folder, physical or digital, with your child's current plan, evaluation reports and a log of communications with the school. If a concern comes up mid-year, you'll have documentation ready rather than scrambling to reconstruct a timeline from memory. 

Bring a support person to meetings when needed. This can be a spouse, family member or a professional advocate. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, without apologizing. "Can you explain how this accommodation will work in the classroom?" is a reasonable, expected question, not an imposition. 

Advocacy Resources: 

• Equip for Equality: Section on IEPs 
• Illinois State Board of Education: Record Keeper
• Parent Guide
• Family Resource Center on Disabilities
• Family Matters Parent Training Information 

Prepare Your Child, Too 

Advocacy isn't only about working with the school, it's also about helping your child build confidence and self-understanding. Depending on their age, consider: 

• Talking openly about their learning differences in age-appropriate terms
  
• Practicing how to ask a teacher for help or clarification
  
• Reassuring them that needing support is common and nothing to be embarrassed about
  
• Reviewing their daily schedule together so new routines feel predictable
  
• For children with learning differences visual schedules can be helpful way to communiate and plan the day. See more free, printable visuals and activities here. 
  
• Tour the school early: Visit the classroom and meet the teacher together before the first day to help your child get familiar with the new environment.
  
• Start school routines early: Practice bedtime and morning schedules 1–2 weeks ahead to ease the transition and secure vital sleep. 

Kids who understand their own learning style tend to become more confident self-advocates as they get older. 

Watch for Early Warning Signs 

The first few weeks of school are a good window to catch small issues before they grow. Signs worth checking in on include: 

• Increased complaints of stomachaches or headaches before school 
  
• Reluctance to talk about the school day 
  
• Homework taking far longer than expected 
  
• Sudden changes in behavior or mood after school 
  

If you notice any of these, a quick check-in with the teacher can clarify whether it's typical back-to-school adjustment or a sign that the current supports need a shift. 

You know your child better than anyone in the classroom. Back-to-school season is your opportunity to translate that knowledge into a plan the whole school team can follow — and to remind your child that they have someone in their corner, every step of the way. 

If you have concerns about your child's learning or development, talk with your child's pediatrician, who can help connect you with evaluation and support services. 

Family Resources: 

• Understood.org A nonprofit that provides resources and support so people who learn and think differently can thrive-in school, at work, and throughout life. 
  
• Child Mind Institute
  
• LD Online  
  
• Healthy Children.org 
  
• American Academy of Pediatrics 
  
• Chicago Public Library: Reading Resources

Learn more about our Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics Division

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