Back-to-school preparation can feel overwhelming when your child needs more than a new backpack and school supplies. There are records to update, services to confirm, routines to rebuild, sensory needs to prepare for, and important information the school team needs to understand before the first day.
The Back-to-School Readiness Checklist helps you organize those moving pieces so you can begin the school year feeling prepared—not scrambling to remember what may have been missed.
Use this practical checklist to help you:
- Gather important IEP, medical, emergency, medication, and provider information
- Connect with teachers and confirm how services and communication will be handled
- Prepare your child for changes in routines, transportation, people, and surroundings
- Check AAC devices, adaptive equipment, sensory supports, comfort items, and personal-care needs
- Plan for the first school-team or IEP check-in
- Remember that the transition into a new school year affects parents, too
This resource is especially helpful for parents and caregivers of children with disabilities who receive special education, related services, medical support, communication assistance, sensory accommodations, or help with daily care.
Work through it at your own pace, check off what you have already completed, and use what remains to guide your next steps.
You do not have to hold every detail in your head. Download your free checklist and take the new school year one step at a time.
Need more than a checklist? The Mama Bear Collective provides practical tools, parent education, workshops, and ongoing guidance to help you understand the system and prepare to participate confidently in decisions affecting your child.
This resource is provided for educational purposes and does not constitute legal, medical, or professional advice.
