Collaborating with Families - Essay Example

Collaborating with Families Realizing that ones child is special brings up a host of emotions at birth and long afterward. At the beginning, parents tend to be depressed and feel let down because of the expectations with the birth of a normal child. However, when the realization sets in then parents learn to accept the state of anxiety, fear, depression, guilt or even anger. Some may accept the status quo and be in a state of denial. Two of the most common emotional states among parents with special needs are anxiety and fear (Moses 1987).

As a teacher working with a parent who experiences these emotions, I would first try to identify the cause of the anxiety and fear. For example perhaps the child in the past has been involved in an accident due to his/her slow response or incapacity to maneuver him/herself, as a result of which, the parent has started to associate leaving the child in the care of anyone outside the family with accident. It is natural to feel anxious and fear that the other person would not understand the childs limited abilities.

I would then allow the parent to participate or observe perhaps every day in the beginning, and then cut it down to one day in a week. This would facilitate teacher-parent trust (Algozzine, et al 2006).Similarly, I would ask the parent to teach me actions that I should take in case her child acts differently in a given situation, like anxiety over performance, and subsequently use the technique in class whenever it happens. The bottom line for these measures would be to learn about the child, and facilitate them a learning environment; and, to mediate the emotions of anxiety and fear as much as possible from the parent (Heward 2002).

ReferencesAlgozzine, et al (2006). Working with families and community agencies to support students with special needs: a practical guide for every teacher. Corwin Press. Heward, W.L. (2002). Exceptional Children: An Introduction to Special Education, Prentice Hall; 7 edition.Moses, K. (1987). Childhood Disability: A Parents Struggle. Online available at: http://www.pediatricservices.com/prof/prof-15.htm