parents with disabilities

Different Methods Help You Communicate with Your Child’s Teacher as a Parent with a Disability

Featured by caste551, posted in Uncategorized

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.

Back to School Survival Guide

Featured by caste551, posted in Uncategorized

Parents getting ready to send little ones off to school experience mixed emotions. As a parent with a disability, the experience isn’t any different.

During the time of a pandemic, it can seem even more nerve-wracking. Safety concerns are now more common. We need to take precautions for our children and family like never before. While keeping this in mind, don’t lose sight of the adventure school can be for our students. This is an exciting time in both you and your child’s lives. The learning and growth of our children that happens each year molds them into the adults of the future. Making preparations before the first day of school is sure to help create wonderful memories. Here are some ideas to help you get through the first few weeks of a new school year.

As parents, we are our children’s first teachers. When our kids go to school, their teachers add a layer to that learning. Although going back to school looks different now because of the pandemic, it’s important to encourage your child to do their best and enjoy the experience.

“Meet the Teacher” is typically the first thing that happens before the school year starts. This is a critical time to speak with your child’s teacher so you know their expectations of your student. It’s a good idea to work with them to form a collaboration. During this meeting, teachers can be reassured you are there to help your child while also being a source of support to them. The collaboration you form can greatly benefit your child throughout the school year.

A valuable strategy you can use to get your child ready for school is implementing a routine at home. Routines can be of great assistance to our children for many reasons. They provide a sense of security and certainty to how they are expected to behave. Routines also provide a schedule that lets students know the amount of time they have to complete specific tasks. Routines are also helpful for students so they can anticipate what comes next in their day at home and school.

Don’t be afraid to be an involved parent in your child’s education. When people see you have a disability, it opens up avenues of communication. It allows people to ask questions they may otherwise be afraid to ask. As a result, your interaction with them can even dispel stereotypes they might have about people with disabilities.

Keeping up with your child’s assignments and adding to their learning experience can enhance your student’s education. Working with your child’s teacher to find out what’s going on in the classroom can be helpful in many ways. Being informed about classroom goals gives you an opportunity to implement certain activities at home. Games and television shows can be chosen that are geared toward ideas being taught in school. This gives your child a chance to practice what they’re learning at school on weekends. These activities can provide reinforcement of important concepts. As a result, kids can be better prepared for the materials being covered in the classroom.

This year some parents have decided to use the distance learning option offered by certain school districts because it is the best choice for their family. Setting up a separate space for learning at home is a great idea. It helps kids stay focused on their schoolwork. Having a morning and after school routine is another good way to put your child in learning mode. This gives kids an opportunity to prepare themselves for interacting with their teacher virtually. They can also have set activities to help them wind down at the end of the day.

Due to the nature of the pandemic, technology is being used more frequently and is more acceptable than ever before. The truth is, it has always been there to lend parents with a disability a helping hand. Technology can become your best friend to make communicating with your child’s teacher easier. Things like Skype, email or even the phone can help you schedule conferences or quick chats to stay in the loop of what’s going on with your child’s progress in the classroom.

Having open communication with your child’s teacher using these techniques will help increase your child’s educational success. If your child happens to encounter issues at school that need to be addressed, knowing all expectations beforehand makes it easier not only to troubleshoot problems, but increases the chances of promptly remedying the issue.

These are straightforward ideas available to anyone. However, when you are faced with certain situations, you may not be sure where to begin. Hopefully, you will use this as a survival guide or the beginnings of a road map that can help you come up with something similar that works best for you and your family.

Survival Tips for New Parents

January 13, 2018 by caste551, posted in Uncategorized

Since the New Year has finally arrived, I started thinking about what I would’ve loved to have known before I became a new mom. As you may or may not know from previous posts, I had done research on what it might be like for me having a disability and being a mom as much as I could through books but, looking back now, I’ve learned some things as the years have gone on, that not only would’ve been helpful to me for certain reasons, but would’ve made the journey of parenting a bit less stressful. My hope is to inspire people, disabled as well as not disabled alike, and put more ideas in their toolbox of parenting to make their days a lot more productive and a little less stressful. Included are three things I’ve found most important so far that I wish I would’ve known, but am glad to have recently discovered, that have been of great help to me.

Organization is a big thing, especially right before baby arrives. We spend lots of time painting rooms, buying cribs and washing clothes before the first time our baby will wear them. This is very important and part of the excitement of our little one’s arrival. Although this can be a very hectic time, it would also be a good idea to reorganize your home too. Places like the kitchen might be a good place to start. This would help so that during those 2 a.m. feedings, you have a good idea exactly where things can be found. As our kids get older, this idea will help make it easier to organize things like toys, books and even games.

Make a simple routine commonplace. At first, there’s more times than not an adjustment period to your babies sleep habits. Once that has been worked out, it’s a good idea to get them into a routine that works for you and your family. It may take some time to figure this out, but the benefits can be many and help your child in a variety of ways. It helps set expectations at home and at school so that they have a predictable environment where they can feel safe and secure. This is also helpful to you as their parent because you can have a better idea of how you’ll be able to get certain things, like laundry or paying bills done in a timely manner. Although these may not be our favorite things to do, it’s no doubt a stress reliever one they’re done.

Find fun and low or no cost “baby and me” activities to help in the development of not only your baby but also for yourself as a parent. Local libraries and community centers have great activities and resources from almost birth for you and your baby. Starting early to develop not only your bond with your child, but also bonds for both of you in your community is a great resource. Not only can your child play with friends their age but, you could also connect with parents and get advice on different aspects of parenting, or even the name of a good pediatrician in your area.

Everyone parents differently, and there is no one “right” way to do it. It’s really all about what works for you and your family. You may decide that none of these ideas are for you, or all of them work great. It might be that this post gets you thinking about what might work for you and how to implement it into your life. It’s never too late to try and make changes to improve your home life in ways you see fit. Lastly, enjoy your baby at every stage of their growth and development. The time passes very quickly, and before you know it you’re wondering where your baby has gone. Hopefully these tips can help you maximize your enjoyment, time and memories you make with your child, while minimizing the everyday stress that’s a normal part of life.

Thanks for reading..

Proposed U.S. Bill Helps Traveling Parents with Disabilities

June 3, 2015June 3, 2015 by caste551, posted in Uncategorized

Summer months are a time for kids to be out of school. It also makes me think about lazy days drinking lemonade to cool off from the hot sun, having barbecues and family reunions, just to name a few fun things. It also stirs up images of taking vacations with family. Thinking about what part of the country, or even the world, you’d like to see, or what adventure you might go on to get a break from everyday life are fun and necessary for most people to “recharge their batteries” from the stresses of life.

Have you ever thought about traveling with your baby? For most parents, while there’s lots of planning that needs to happen for the event, others may sometimes be nervous about this undertaking. Parents with disabilities may even think this isn’t a possibility for them at all. Luckily, there seems to be hope on the horizon. There’s a proposed new U.S. Bill trying to make lactation rooms available to breastfeeding mothers. The room also has to be accessible to people with disabilities. I realize that traveling with a baby or young child isn’t the easiest thing to do when you have a disability. But, due to small changes like this, we could have the opportunity to share in experiences and memories with more ease and less anxiety about the experience. People may not have given the idea of traveling a second thought but maybe now, with this new proposed Bill, parents with disabilities can think a little bit more about the possibility of travel with their families.

While the Bill isn’t intended to focus directly on parents with disabilities, I feel like it’s another step in the right direction. Whether you breastfeed your kids or not, it’s a great idea to have a room at the airport accessible to parents with disabilities to tend to their baby’s needs. I wonder how many more parents with disabilities would entertain the thought of traveling with their families, or even by themselves with their babies and young children, if they felt like airports and other entities that facilitate travel would be more welcoming to them?

Would more accessible services to parents with disabilities make you more willing to go on vacation with your family?

Thanks for reading..

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-airport-breastfeeding-duckworth-met-20150526-story.html