Yesterday, I posted to let everyone know I was off to speak at Northern Illinois University to speak on autism and Aspergers. A large part of the presentation focuses on the family aspect of this particular disability, as well as disability impact on families in general. I have family experience with this as a sibling, so it’s especially close to my heart. I get a chance to talk to future educators, employers, and many others about being mindful of disabilities but also of the level of family involvement disability requires. My major talking points are:
-What is my family disability experience? What is the disability? What was my childhood like? How did it differ from an “average” childhood?
-How did disability in the family effect my future? How did it develop me as a person? How as it effected me as an educator? How does it effect my own future plans for location, family of my own, financial help, etc?
-How does it alter relationships? With my parents? With other family members, siblings, and directly with the person with a disability?
-What words of advice to I have for families of similar dynamics? How do you balance your life, and the family responsibility?
-What words of advice can I give to those with little experience in disabilities and what can I tell future educators about working with families with similar situations?
I would love to type up every answer to those talking points above, and maybe one day I will, but I like to speak dynamically, from the heart. I keep a few note cards in my pocket with those points on them, but I find that each time I speak, I change it up a little. I learn to add more or less by the questions that students ask me, or the looks on their faces….maybe that part is just the speaker in me.
My greatest hope from all of this, and continuing year after year (I’ve spoken on this 4 semesters now) is that disability awareness will grow and we’ll see more empathy and patience. I also hope that I can touch a few future teachers, and help them to realize that they cannot only base there opinions of families and students on what they see at school. They must make parents feel heard, understood, and trusted. Raising a child with special needs is a journey, and that makes it sound nice…it’s an uphill battle. It’s an all family journey, and parents are usually trying their best. Teachers need to realize that you can be coming at a kid from two different angles, parent and school, or you can form a relationship with that parent and you can help each other. Become an advocate and a resource for them and I can assure you that the right parents with appreciate it and help you out with things you need to educate their child in the classroom. When you build that bond with the families it isn’t scary to tell them that a change at home may be needed, it’s friendly and they respect it. I am aware that every situation will not be perfect, every parent won’t bond with you, or feel grateful for all suggestions, but most will, and those parents are going to make the times that a family doesn’t connect with you, all worth while! I promise that the best relationship you can form for the student is with the family. I suppose it took me being in a family and seeing it from the other side, to be able to think this way as a teacher, but I hope that speaking on this will help more teachers think that way too!
Have a fantastic day! If you’re from IL get out and enjoy this lovely weather on Good Friday!
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The Light Bulb 