Strategies for Teaching Students With Mild Disabilities Report

Experience Interview

How did you learn that Dennis has a disability? (Who was present? When did this happen?) If you were giving advice to professionals who need to explain to a parent that his/her child has a special need, what would that advice be?

Dennis was born with proper vision but lost his sight to Meningitis when he was four years old. He fell into a coma for one month and when he recovered he could not see. I was later informed by the doctor attending to him that it was unlikely for him to recover his sight. The doctor also advised me to find ways of helping him accept the situation. I was shocked and angry because the person who broke the news was casual in his approach. It took a long time for me to overcome my grief and help my son adjust to his new life. If I was to advise medical professionals tasked with the responsibility of breaking such news to parents, I would urge them to do it gently. I do not mean that they should withhold the truth, but they need to assess the situation and only offer hard facts when the person is in his/her right frame of mind.

How did you feel when you received the diagnosis?

I am a religious person and I was angry with God for letting my child lose his sight. I also felt sad because I was aware of the challenges that blind people go through on a daily basis and I did not want my son to encounter them.

Have your feelings changed since the initial diagnosis? Describe.

I have now accepted the situation and made peace with God. I have learned to accept that people in the world have different destinies and that we cannot change our fate.

What have been the positive aspects of having a child in the family with a disability?

The good thing about having a child with a disability in the family is that it teaches everyone in the household to be patient. We understand that it will always take Dennis longer to do some tasks compared to his siblings and we try to slow down and allow him to catch up.

What have been the problems or challenges you have experienced having a child with a disability?

The greatest problem I have encountered in having a child with a disability is social acceptance. As a child, Dennis sometimes wants to go out and play with his peers, but they do not let him take part in their games because he cannot do most of the things they do.

How did your other children react to learning his/her brother/sister had a disability? What impact has Dennis had on them?

Luckily, Dennis is the eldest in the family and his siblings were born after he went blind. They, therefore, grew up accustomed to his condition.

What kinds of support have been most helpful to you? (family members, parent groups, neighbors, other?) How would you prioritize your family needs and the areas in which you feel that you need more assistance?

My family has been the greatest support system. I would not have easily accepted the situation had members of my family not encouraged me. I need more assistance in finances because Dennis attends a special school. Sometimes I have to make sure we live on a lean budget so that I can save enough money for his school fees.

What have been your experiences in working with school personnel? What have they done that has been most helpful? What have they done that was least helpful or even harmful?

School personnel has been accommodative and helpful. This is mainly because they encounter children with similar conditions on a regular basis and, therefore, understand their needs.

How could the school help your child transition to adulthood?

The school can help Dennis transition into adulthood by structuring the curriculum to include more self-reliance training. By learning to be independent, Dennis will find his place in society and grow to be a responsible adult.

If I was to be Dennis’s teacher next year, what advice would you want to give me so that he/she has an optimum learning experience?

Dennis is a bright student, but he can be temperamental. Try to be patient with him and encourage him to control his feelings.

What would you want me to do/not do in terms of my interactions with you if I were Dennis’s teacher?

I would like you to encourage him to venture out of his comfort zone and try new things. This is because he can be quite reserved.

I am just learning about students with disabilities and how to work effectively with them in my classroom. What other information would you like me—and my classmates—to know about working with children with special needs?

Children with disabilities are just like any other student you have in class, but with slightly different needs. Try your best not to treat them differently.

Summary

Among the teaching principles I have learned from the interview, is that children learn better when the teacher understands their needs. This is especially true for children with disabilities because they all require special attention. It is, therefore, the responsibility of the teacher to ensure that the special needs of all students in his/her class are met.

The second teaching principle I have learned is equality. Ensuring that students treat each other as peers are important in making the slow-learners commit to the educational process. This is important in a class that has a mix of able-bodied and disabled children. Teaching the disabled children that they can be as good as the fully-able ones encourage them to give their best in studies (Boyle and Scanlon, 2009).

Another principle of teaching that I have understood better through this exercise is the importance of community in learning. Students come from different family backgrounds, something that influences their willingness to learn (Boyle and Scanlon, 2009). A good teacher needs to appreciate the diversity in his/her class and create lesson plans that help all children gain confidence in their abilities regardless of their differences in upbringing.

The provision of effective feedback to students and their parents also helps fast-track the learning process. Proper reward systems can encourage students to keep working hard. Once parents understand the areas in which their children are having difficulties, they can devise creative ways to help them grasp concepts easily.

References

Boyle J. & Scanlon, D. (2009). Methods and Strategies for Teaching Students with Mild Disabilities: A Case-Based Approach. Boston: Cengage Learning.