Meet a School Psychologist!
Hi! My name is Ms. Amber Cummings and I am a school psychologist! Right now, I work at an Early Childhood Education Center with preschool students. I love many things about my job, especially getting to play, read, and have fun with the kids on the playground.
How can I help you?
The best thing about my job is being able to help kids learn and be proud of their accomplishments! With my job, I help children in various ways. The most important is observing them in play sessions and seeing what I can do to help them in the classroom.
I can help you by educating your friends, teachers, and other administrators at school by telling them about FPIES and the do’s and don’ts!
But in addition, I also talk with students about things that may be bothering them and help some kids see the potential they didn’t think they had. I am all about providing a safe and supportive environment!
You can see me in my office or in a classroom observing kids. If I am really lucky, you can catch me on the playground playing with the kids. But I am always available, even if I am not in my office.
What's the Plan?
Individualized Education Plans (IEP) are specific plans that we create for students to target specific areas. For example, if one of your friends was having a hard time identifying letters and numbers, we would put a plan in place and give her a special person to work with.
504 plans are things that the teacher can do in the classroom and provide accommodations. Say you got sick from something you ate and you had to miss school because of it. A 504 plan would allow you some extra time to get your work done without worrying about getting a bad grade.
Medical plans are implemented and monitored by the nurse and are for kids who have more than the basic needs. The plan tells the nurse what she has to do in school, say if some has an allergic reaction to a food they ate. The nurse would look at this plan and know what to do!
You can always be a part of any of these plans by always telling your teacher and parents about what is working for you and what is not. If you don’t feel that you are getting enough help, or if you experienced an allergic reaction to a food not listed, make sure you let your parents and teacher know! We can always look at these plans at anytime!
Should you have any questions on IEPs, 504, or Medical Plans, always reach out to your school district and get in touch with your local school psychologist. I am always available to answer questions if needed!
Looking to Learn More?
For additional information on IEPs, 504’s and other educational plans, our partners at Global Genes has created this informative and helpful webinar:
Optimizing Your Loved One’s Learning and Potential at School.
Also, for additional resources and tools, be sure to check out their toolkit:
Advocating for your child with a rare disease at their school
Page published: August 15, 2013. Last update: January 22, 2018. Copyright © 2013,The FPIES Foundation