Application

Special Needs from a Variety of Perspectives

Interview with a Teacher or Caregiver

Your goal for this interview is to learn about a teacher’s or caregiver’s understanding of the special education process, as well as his or her perspectives on working with children who have special needs. Use the guidelines below to help you organize the conversation around two main areas:

1. The Special Education Process

Ask the teacher or caregiver to focus on one child with whom he or she works and walk through the steps below. Be sure to learn the age of the child and when the identification process began.

· The pre-referral and referral process

· The assessment process

· The IEP (Individualized Education Program) process

· The people involved

· Their roles

· How often IEP meetings take place

· How the people involved work together

· The family’s role in the process

· Evaluation and ongoing planning

Note: Assure the teacher or caregiver that the child will remain anonymous and that you will use fictitious names for the child and family.

2. The Teacher’s or Caregiver’s Perspectives

Ask questions such as the following:

· What is your professional philosophy about effective and appropriate education for young children with special needs?

· What do you see as your role in the lives of the children with whom you work?

· What have been some of your most rewarding and/or challenging experiences in working with families of young children who have special needs?

· What could help you be more effective in working with children who have special needs?

· How could services for children with special needs be improved in your school/program?

· What have been your most challenging experiences in working with a child or children who have special needs?

· What have been your most rewarding experiences in working with a child or children who have special needs?

· What misconceptions or assumptions about children with special needs would you like to dispel?