What are the stages parents or guardians may experience when they are told they have a child with a disability?

Being told that your child has a disability can be as traumatizing as learning of a family member’s sudden death. Many parents are stunned by such news. Receiving such a message can produce overwhelming emotions of shock, disbelief, anxiety, fear, and despair.

Why should parents of children with disabilities be involved in the process of planning and decision making?

Family involvement in planning and decision making is important because families know their child best. Family input is instrumental in making sure that the student receives appropriate support, and that necessary changes are made so they can be fully included in the classroom.

How disability affects a family?

“A disability can consume a disproportionate share of a family’s resources of time, energy and money, so that other individual and family needs go unmet. Families often talk about living ‘one day at a time. ‘ The family’s lifestyle and leisure activities are altered.

Why is it important to involve parents in their child’s education?

Research from the National Coalition for Parent Involvement in Education shares that “no matter their income or background, students with involved parents are more likely to have higher grades and test scores, attend school regularly, have better social skills, show improved behavior and adapt well to school.”

How important is parents involvement in the learning of students with additional needs?

Parental involvement is essential for student development and offers many benefits. It also helps improve student behavior in the classroom. Having parents and teachers communicate more helps students feel more motivated in their classes; their self-esteem and attitudes in class improve.

What are the rights and responsibilities of parents of children with disabilities?

Parents have a certain role to play in the process of getting children the help they need. Find out what parents of children with disabilities can expect in this list of rights and responsibilities. Parents of children with disabilities have a vital role to play in the education of their children.

How does a parent feel when their child has a disability?

Parents become resigned to the fact that their child has a disability. In some situations, one or more of the family may slip into depression. Feelings of shame, guilt, hopelessness, and anxiety stemming from a new overwhelming burden of responsibility can become intense.

Are You having trouble accepting your child’s disability?

Until parents who are having difficulty accepting their child’s disability can cope with their own pain and frustrations, their full energies generally cannot be directed toward understanding the child’s disability, level of development, readiness for instruction, or participation in the intervention process.

What are the responsibilities of a parent of a special needs child?

[One parent noted that parents of special needs children need to take on many roles and responsibilities.] “With a special needs child, a parent has to learn to be patient, to be a nurse, to be a lawyer because I have to be a good mediator for all the things that happen to my child.”