Why Is It Important To Understand Family With Disabilities

As a professional it is important to understand and recognize how a family with disabilities are affected by issues within a school. Our families of children with disabilities go through a rollercoaster of emotions, including; grief, guilt, anxiety and depression. The parents of these children can sometimes feel as though their child’s chance at a bright future is lost. As professionals, it is important to act in a professional manner while still being accepting and supportive. It is important to understand the diversity between each family and be aware that every family handles a disability in a different way. Teachers who have a student with disabilities needs to recognize the changes that will come to the families lives after discovering

Creating a open environment where families feel welcomed and accepted is a key way to create and build positive relationships. It is important to support family involvement within the classroom. Family involvement enhances the student’s overall education experience. Teachers need to recognize that being involved can be different for every family. The mother who comes in and helps during class activities can be considered just as involved as a mother who works two jobs, but reads with her daughter every day. As a teacher, you need to recognize these differences and that families of students with disabilities will show their involvement in a variety of

Parents are ultimately in-charge of their children and they make the decisions about their child. It is vital that you respect the families and their decisions, despite disagreeing with the parents point of view. It is essential to stay professional and attempt to build a positive relationship with their families. Along with respecting the parents decisions it is important to respect the different cultures of your classroom. Some cultures can view disabilities as something that needs to be fixed, while others accept it a part of life. Whichever viewpoint the families view their child’s disability as, teachers need to respect the culture and their way to act upon the disability. It is important to remember that the best source of information is the family themselves. It is also imperative that you respect the family’s privacy; as a teacher, oftentimes families will also open their doors up to you, keep their information that is non-essential to the school district private. This creates a trust level with the family and also creates a safe environment for the student. Having a student with special needs can, sometimes, weigh heavily on a family- how they are coping and dealing with their emotions and choosing to handle the situation, as long as it is appropriate, is not other people’s