Article Link: http://exchangepress.com/article/sensitizing-teachers-to-the-concerns-of-parents/5008837/
Parents have to be recognized as special educators, the true experts on their children: and professional people - teachers, pediatricians, psychologists and others - have to learn to be consultants to parents.- Nicholas Hobbs, Vanderbilt University
Preparing to assist teachers in working with parents of children with differing abilities, I set about interviewing some of these parents, listening for common themes as well as specific concerns. Indeed, they were experts and gave me a special education. On the whole, parents of children with special needs have a remarkable sensitivity and resourcefulness. They have blended a sense of urgency with patience, crafted skills of advocacy and community development. How can we help teachers see things through their eyes, integrate their needs into program considerations? The interview process is a useful training strategy in itself, giving teachers a set of questions and the names of some parents (unknown to them) who've agreed to be contacted.
What I've learned about parenting children with differing abilities implies training for teachers in four broad categories:
_ accessibility with developmental and cultural relevancy
_ attitudes and language
_ parent stages, sensitivity, and communications
_ support and advocacy needs
Accessibility with Developmental and Cultural Relevancy
With the impetus ...