Students with Learning Disabilities
The Family and Learning Disabilities
Parental Adjustment
• Awareness and Recognition of Problem
- Parents feel helpless and frustrated when child does not seem “normal”
- Although difficult, parents must recognize the disability
- Common reactions include parental conflict, doctor shopping, and defense mechanisms
Parental Adjustment continued
• Search for a Cause and Cure
- Hope for a cure and removal of guilt
• Acceptance of Child
- Emphasize strengths rather than weaknesses
Schools Helping Families
• Informational Strategies– Resources– Information sharing
• Parent Education– Focus on needs of parents for content– Support parents’ interactions with
professionals– Promote growth of child
Family’s Role at Home
• Parent Observation– Insightful judges of child’s development
• Time Management– Routine as essential structure for success
• Parents as Teachers– Tutoring with care
Parent-Teacher Partnership
• Establishing Cooperation– Recognize potential challenges– View roles as complementary
• Culturally Responsive Relationships– Learn the culture of students– Exhibit cultural responsiveness toward
families– Honor linguistic backgrounds of families– Link home, school, and community
Successful Parent-Teacher Conferences
• Establish rapport
• Obtain pertinent information from parents
• Provide information
• Summarize and plan follow-up activities
Reporting Student Progress
• IDEA reauthorization mandates regular progress reports
• 6-week period reports typical but not enough to be helpful
• Alternatives:– Daily report system– Curriculum-based measurement reports– Weekly progress reports
Parent Advocacy and Parent Rights
• Parents and professionals working together
• Reauthorization of IDEA, guaranteeing free and appropriate public education
• Parents have the right to be involved in identification, evaluation, placement, and program development
• Due process
