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EXPERIENCE INTERVIEW INSTRUCTIONS
You will select an individual with a disability and interview 1 family member of this individual.
You must explain the requirements of your assignment and ask permission to take notes or to
audiotape the interview. You are responsible for locating this person and must not contact the
School of Education Field Office.
List each question and then give the family response underneath. Responses must be rich and
detailed.
Family Member Interview
Part 1
1.How did you learn that Alexa 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?
Mrs. C learned when her daughter Alexa was 3 yers that she has autism disorder. They were
going for a annual check up when the news was delivered. Being told that your child has a
disability can be as traumatizing as learning of a family member’s death. If I am giving an advice
to a professional on how to explain to a parent that his/her child has special need, I would advice
them to understand that many parents would be stunned by such news because o ffear, anxiety
and even disbelief. Therefore the professional must encourage parents to ask questions and
express their emotions.
2.How did you feel when you received the diagnosis?
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Mrs. C felt grief, depression and shame. She also worried about how she would manage to cater
for the child because she was a single mother. She was also shocked, and she may cry or become
dejected.
3.Have your feelings changed since the initial diagnosis? Describe.
Yes. I was for the first 2 years, I was unable to put my live back together and enjoy living or to
even imagine the future but she was later able to get over it, accept what it is and also the
moment she realized she is not the only single mother going through it.
4.What have been the positive aspects of having a child in the family with a disability?
It has been a life changing expeience for me and my family. We have met such interesting people
and it has even led to a career in the disability field. I have also learned the true meaning of
unconditional love.
5.What have been the problems or challenges you have experienced having a child with a
disability?
Building a support team, managing social issues and being able to not jump into conclusions.
Children can be inattentive for a lot of reasons.
6.How did your other children react to learning his/her brother/sister had a disability? What
impact has Alexa had on them? (if appropriate)
After Alexa, I decided to not have any more children but she do have cousins who would usually
soend the weekends with us and they understand that Alexa may do some rhings differently than
they will and they are fine with it. They play together cheerfully and they seem to get along just
fine.
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7.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?
Parent groups. I met so many parents and other family members with similar needs. The
interactions provided much needed information and emotional support.
8.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?
It has just been an amazing journey in educating myself on many things. I haven’t had any
harmful or unpleasant experiences. I get all the information needed and then make the best
decision for my child as needed.
9.How could the school help your child transition to adulthood?
The school has so many transition services including instruction or special instruction and
community experiences. These would help my child transition successfully because she would
have overcome any social issues by then.
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10.If I were to be Alexa’s teacher next year, what advice would you want to give me so that
he/she has an optimum learning experience?
Alexa is an interesting child. She is willing to learn any ne task giving to her. She is
sometimes shy to ask for directions and it just takes monitoring her to realize she many need
something like even a crayon to draw.
11.What would you want me to do/not do in terms of my interactions with you if I were
Alexa’s teacher?
I am an involved parent, and I a all she has. I would like to be updated at any given time on every
little thing that goes on at school. I would rather like to be contacted as soon as a behavior
changes is in effect in other to know how to approach her when she arrives home.
12.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?
The biggest mistake that people make when they meet Alexa is failing to interact with her. Some
children with special needs perceive sensory input in different ways and may be unable to
verbalize discomfort. Remember that all behavior is communication. Also you must always use
common sense and remember to be flexible at all times.
Part 2
On the basis of the information collected and the information obtained from your research and
readings, summarize 4–5 teaching principles you have learned in this course that you would use
to benefit this family. Part 2 must be at least 250 words. You must use at least 1 research article
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outside of your textbook to answer Part 2, and you must cite your reference at the bottom of your
interview using current APA format.
Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) are the largest growing category of disability in the United
States. Parents, teachers and related professionals must be educated in other to kniw the guiding
principles for educating children with autism spectrum and related behavioral and
communication disabilities. There are so many teaching principles that I learned throughout my
course that I can give to help benefit a parent with disability. For Alexa with an autism, I would
advice everyone around her to be flexible regarding timing. If a child moves away from
brushing his hair, rather than force or oush it, wait 10 minutes and then try again. It is also very
important to learn the symptoms and challenges of autism. A child with autism has limited
speech or that child is nonverbal. I learned that, if autism treatment shows that if language is seen
as both useful and fun, children will be motivated to use. Applying the principles for autism
education is also very important. Adults and educators must respond quickly to sound that a child
makes. When a child makes a sound, move quickly and offer something, even if you don’t kno
what they are requesting. Demonstrate that verbal communication get people to move. The child
must get to understand that speech will give him/her power. A Functional Behavior Assessment
(FBA) can be used to help diminish disruptive or unsafe behaviors. This tool is a form of
classroom discipline that can aid a teacher in identifying, focusing on, and helping to eliminate a
student's inappropriate behavior in the classroom. This type of tool allows a student to become
less and less disruptive, and therefore more and more able to participate in inclusion. Other
students with disabilities may struggle academically. Therefore, the need for one-on-one teaching
or direct instruction in groups is needed (Hallahan & Kauffman, 2012). Establishing an effective
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Submit this assignment by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Sunday of Module/Week 7.
communication system and using visual strategies and environmental supports. A child with an
autism disorder must be in an autism home support service. Every child can learn. In order to
achieve their full potential, children with autism need people who understand their motivation
and can break down goals into task that they can accomplish. Even complex behaviors can be
analyzed to identrify ways to promote adaptive behavior and reduce maladaptive behaviors, step
by step.
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References
Broun, L. Teaching Students with Autistic Spectrum Disorders to Read. Council for Exceptional
Children, 21, 20-40.
Hallahan, P., Kauffman, J., and Pullen, P. (2012). Exceptional learners: An introduction to
special education. (12th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education.
