As parents, we all know that our children’s success in school helps them carve out a path to their future. Part of that success in school is being able to communicate with your child’s teacher and be part of the educational team. As a parent with a disability, you may feel like you face obstacles in communicating with their teachers or even participating in the educational journey they are on, but do not be discouraged. There are many ways to communicate with your child’s teacher.
Whether it’s this subject or another obstacle you may face in accomplishing your goals as a parent with a disability, the best advice I can give you is to create a plan. That plan needs to be specific to your needs. You should have it outlined in your mind at the minimum to know what you are going to do when you need to put it into effect.
When my son began attending school, the options were limited as to how I would interact with the teachers and other school staff as independently as possible. Being unable to drive, I knew issues would present themselves, though I was not sure how I was going to solve the puzzle that was in front of me. I decided to come up with an alternative way so that I would be able to compensate for my limitations. I was determined to be as involved in every aspect of his schooling as possible and was not going to allow the obstacles that lie in front of me from having the same experience with my child as other parents that did not have a disability. Their school experience is where kids make a lot of memories with their families, and I wanted to share that part of his life with him too.
When it was time to attend parent teacher conferences or meet the teacher, I had to tap into my natural supports to make that happen. Natural supports, also sometimes referred to as organic supports, are a great tool you should already have in place before an event. This will alleviate your need to be worried at the last minute about how you can get certain things done. It took having a network of different people willing to help by being available at specific times so I could participate in those activities.
When the pandemic unexpectedly arrived in early 2020, the ways in which people were communicating and handling their daily lives got flipped upside down. That included how students were attending school. Suddenly, my son was home attending classes over the camera on my computer and he even brought some classes literally into my living room.
On a positive note, the new options that were available not only made things easier but also more accessible. The technology allowed me to interact with his teachers more independently. This helped since I no longer had to coordinate with someone else’s schedule to make sure I could participate in a school meeting.
Things like using email communication, phone conferencing or video conferencing allow you to have open communication with teachers and other staff people. This is a great option to allow open communication whether they have an issue with the student that needs to be addressed or if you have a concern you need to bring to their attention. Suddenly, the limitations your disability might place on you have disappeared and are no longer a factor. You can focus on the matter at hand which is your student’s educational needs.
The most important thing is to be a proactive and involved parent on your student’s educational journey. Research the ways you can participate in the school’s events. Make a plan you feel good about and is functional for you. As a result, being able to be a present and proactive parent will let your child know they are loved and supported.
When interacting with their teachers, reassure them you are a proactive parent and are there to support your student and the teacher in their work. Not only will these steps help your student succeed in their educational life, but you will have the chance to make memories with them that will give them a chance for a successful future.