Being in a program that is preparing me for becoming a special education teacher requires, on many levels for me to be especially sensitive to peoples' situations and their cultural diversity. Children with special needs need to be accurately assessed and this often brings things up that need to be properly framed for the parent/caretaker so that it is not misinterpreted. For instance, if a child is 12 years old and happens to be verbally communicating at the level of a 3 year old, it is difficult and painful for a parent to digest.
It is important to feel the families out and use any information that is already available in an IEP (individual education plan/program) or from a previous school that they attended. If you know that they come from a culture outside of the United States, doing research on wherever they are from can be helpful. You might find out the they involve the whole family in decision making for their child. If you don't know this and don't invite all of the members you may already start off on the wrong foot. Additionally, learning about they're mannerisms when communicating can save you from offending anyone. If you come on too strong or not with enough enthusiasm, you might not be taken seriously. All of these things will contribute to having positive experiences with the family. As a result of this, they will respect you and may seek you out with questions or concerns they have for their child. This is the relationship we all should be motivated to lay foundation for in our work.
This is not strictly for usage with parents and family members, but also with the children in your class. If you are sensitive to each individual's cultural background and customs you can have a more intuitive approach to your interactions with them. When you accomplished this, the children will feel more comfortable, and ready to learn and approach you if they are in need of something
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