Keeping Records

Why is keeping records important?

Even prior to receiving an official diagnosis of a learning disability (LD), you may be starting to find that there are many different issues and members of your school team to deal with in regards to your child’s learning. As a parent, it is important that you understand exactly what steps the school is taking in ensuring your child’s success and who is responsible for them. Keeping a record of all of your communications with the school can help you both to do this effectively and will also help you make sure that any new teachers or support staff can be updated as to what has already been attempted with your child. What works and what doesn’t.

What do I need to include in my records?

Within each communication record, you should record the following information:

Who was involved in the communication?
Where did the communication take place?
How long did the communication take place for?
What were the key topics discussed?
What were the action items that came out of the discussion and who is responsible for making sure they happen?
Were there deadlines given for the action items? If not, when should you follow up to make sure what was promised actually happens?
Do you have any follow up questions that you have thought of after the communication that you should look to have answered?

How do I set up a record-keeping system?

Ultimately, you need to set up a system that works for you and your family. If you prefer to take notes by hand, then maybe a binder would work best for you. If you prefer to work electronically, having a file on your desktop that includes records of all communications with your school may be a better option. It is important to figure out what suits your style best and to make sure that no matter what you choose, you keep it up to date and easily accessible. The important thing is that you have a record of all the information you need to make informed decisions and to advocate for your child when needed. LD@home’s School Communication Log is a great resource for building your own record-keeping system!