The Power of One Page for Back To School

How a simple tool can strengthen home-school collaboration and protect your child’s needs

As the school year begins, many parents of children with disabilities feel a mix of excitement and uncertainty. Even with an IEP in place, questions often linger:

Will my child’s teacher truly understand them?
Will the most important supports be used consistently and by every adult?
How can I clearly and respectfully share what matters most?

That’s where the power of a One-Page Profile comes in.

A One-Page Profile—or “All About Me” sheet—is a short document, usually just one page, that gives teachers and school staff a quick but meaningful introduction to your child. It’s designed by you, the parent or caregiver, and can include both key highlights from your child’s IEP and additional insights you want the team to know from day one.

What to Include in a One-Pager

Here are some helpful elements to consider:

• Strengths, interests, and personality traits
• What works well for learning and regulation
• Common challenges and how to support them
• Medical or behavioral info to be aware of
• Your hopes and priorities as a parent, and how you prefer to communicate

📎View visual examples on Canva

Why It Matters

When done well, a one-pager builds connection and clarity from the start. It gives every adult on your child’s team a shared understanding not just of what your child needs, but of who they are. It also helps prevent miscommunication and sets the tone for a collaborative partnership.

When my daughter Niyah was in fourth grade, we created a simple one-page team sheet to accompany her IEP. One of the things we included was how Niyah uses rocking as a tool to self-regulate. For our family, the school needed to understand this wasn’t a behavior to extinguish, but rather a meaningful strategy she used to stay calm and connected.

Because this was communicated in writing from the start, her team was able to better support her throughout the day, and we felt more confident knowing we had shared what mattered most.

This is the power of being proactive. A one-pager allows you to express your voice and vision in a way that is clear, compassionate, and centered on your child’s success.

Make It Fancy or Keep It Simple

If you love design and want to get creative, Canva offers colorful templates you can customize with photos and personal flair. Alternatively, a simple word document can be created to include a list of important information and a photo of your child.

Prefer to keep things easy and low-tech? CaringTide Partner Families can ask their Client Manager for a ready-to-use template to get started.

What matters most is choosing the format that feels doable for you because getting it into the hands of your child’s team is what really makes the impact.

This Is Your Voice

You don’t need to wait for the school to ask. Share this document at the beginning of the school year, at IEP meetings, or when you meet the teacher. You can also email it to staff during transitions.

It’s a small step that can make a big difference.

So take a deep breath, gather your thoughts, and give it a try because no one knows your child better than you do.