Air date: August 22, 2010

Host: Barbara Lewis

Email
Share this segment
Download MP3

Interview: Kathy Oehler, speech pathologist, autism consultant, Indianapolis

It’s back to school season, and you know what that means?
Backpack? Check. Pencils and markers? Check. That’s the easy stuff.

For parents of children on the autism spectrum, there’s one more important item on the back-to-school list: an Individual Education Plan, or IEP.

That’s the customized educational roadmap required by law to make sure children with special needs receive appropriate services.

Barbara Lewis chats with Kathy Oehler, an autism consultant who works with a suburban Indianapolis school system. She explains that receiving a diagnosis of autism is just the starting point. She offers tips for parents of autistic children.

Additional Resources:

• Read up on the Individual Education Plan for special-needs kids that's mandated by U.S. law.