The realization of the Individual Educational Program (IEP) for children with special needs represents a key factor in the educational system and thus enables the child to develop and advance within a range of both his abilities and potential. It is formed in cooperation with professionals, parents and to the child’s own extent. IEP is an on-going process of closely intertwined activities of the child’s behavior, planning of goals and work – in particular, the work with a child and his/hers evaluation which can be used as a platform for further work. The very essence of this process lies within abilities, opportunities and experience defined by the ongoing objectives set to help the child to be as independent and included in the society as possible.
The empirical section of this thesis is focused on the position of both professionals and parents in regards to the individualized program and individual elements of its realization. The research was carried out at the elementary school Anton Janša Radovljica and included 28 professionals and 40 parents of children with special needs. The main goal of the research was to find out which viewpoints each party represents, as they are of extreme importance in respect of the realization in practice. The conducted researched evaluated if there are important discrepancies between the viewpoints of professionals and parents in turn. Given the fact that both the Program with Lower Educational Standard and Special Education Program are carried out at the school, the research also compared the viewpoints on the realization of the IEP in both programs. Moreover, the research also compared the viewpoints of professionals based on their specialization in the educational system and their current working position.
According to the survey results, professionals and parents have in general a positive position on the IEP. Both parties are to a great extent aware of the importance of the common realization of the IEP representing the basis for the development and progress of the child. The research points out the differences regarding viewpoints of both professionals and parents when they are compared between the two educational programs. The results of the in-depth comparison of professionals’ viewpoints depicted a profile with a more positive stance regarding the realization of the IEP. The profile of this professional is filled by a special education teacher, whose position in the Special Education Program is a class teacher.
Based on theoretical starting points and on research results, guidelines for the realization of the IEP, which could prove to be of help to professionals and parents at the preparation stage of the IEP and its realization, have been formed.
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