Helen Keller is an example of a child with special needs. Her name is associated with Anne Sullivan, her teacher. However, it was Helen’s mother, Kate Adams Keller, who recognized her daughter’s unique abilities and challenges and initiated the process of meeting them. Helen had been born with the ability to see and hear, but lost both during an illness when she was 19 months old. Her mother recognized Helen’s intelligence and resilience and refused to accept that her daughter was doomed to live her life as an incomplete person. She sought out the help and support needed to allow Helen to live as full a life as possible.
Another example is Temple Grandin. Temple was born in 1947 and did not talk until she was 3 1/2 years old. At that time the expert recommendation was institutionalization, Temple’s mother, Eustacia, would not accept that. Eustacia took Temple to the world’s leading special needs experts and hired a speech therapist for her daughter. Eustacia also found private schools willing to work with Temple’s special needs. She was relentless in making sure her daughter was provided with the training she needed to thrive as an adult.
Kate and Eustacia succeeded in meeting the needs of their children and you can too. You may not have a degree or even much experience in learning styles or educational best practice, but you are the expert on your child. You have observed and interacted with him or her from birth. You can identify their moods, predict their responses, and understand how to motivate them better than any other adult. You are best suited to provide the passion to see that your child receives the support needed to reach their full potential.
Please do not take the approach of deferring your rights and responsibilities as a parent to the professionals. Our education system is encumbered by federal mandates, state regulations, and local controversies. Decisions made are rarely based on the best interest of children and families and more often based on meeting institutional expediency. The education of your child is your responsibility and you need to approach the education system with the intent to review what they have to offer and decide how you can use it for the benefit of your child.
Sometimes parents feel intimidated when dealing with an education professional with an advanced degree. If this happens to you, remember that you have specialized knowledge of your child. What’s more, you have been dedicated to meeting their needs since birth and will continue to be committed to that cause for the rest of your life. The education professional will have a limited involvement of nine months to possibly a few years. When they witness your passion and willingness to work with them in meeting your child’s educational needs, they will want to listen to what you have to say.