What Special Considerations Should the IEP Include for an Elementary School Age Child?

It is very important that the IEP, particularly for boys with fragile X syndrome, be developed and implemented by a multidisciplinary team with a multidisciplinary approach. The occupational therapist and speech-language pathologist should be able to work together to design programs, such as social-motor groups.

Considerations about the setting for education are important, not only in thinking about the least restrictive environment, but also in addressing sensory needs. Boys with sensory overload characteristics need to be in settings that allow for quiet spaces, time to pull back from the entire class, and materials for calming. (See the section on occupational therapy for more complete descriptions of needs and intervention strategies).

In choosing inclusion classrooms, parents and school personnel need to seek out those regular education teachers who are calm, structured, and attuned to individual needs. A teacher who follows a regular schedule and provides visual cues for transitions may be very helpful to the child with fragile X.

A language-rich environment is also important for boys with fragile X syndrome. Such boys may be able to imitate good role models for conversational skills. 

Girls with fragile X may require resource room services for assistance in math skills and work with a speech-language pathologist for pragmatic (conversational) goals.

Gail Harris-Schmidt, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
Saint Xavier University
Chicago, Illinois

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