 Cultivate effective partnerships between parents and professionals through honest, respectful and skillful communication.The authors draw upon the metaphor of "dance" to better understand the complexities and possibilities of forming partnerships between educators, administrators, early childhood providers, therapists, support staff, other professionals, and parents of children with disabilities. This revised edition of Do You Hear What I Hear? Parents and Professionals Working Together for Children With Special Needs is rich with stories, examples, and practical insights. This book, written from both the parent's and the professional's points of view, provides a developmental approach to understanding and forging positive adult relationships, while also providing concrete ways to advocate for children. The authors' years of experience as successful consultants, trainers, and educators lends this helpful resource a deep sense of realism and compassion. They remind the reader of how essential the parent-professional partnership is—and why it IS a dance that matters. Key features include: · Practical insights and evidence-based approaches to forming partnerships
· Easy-to-read, non-technical language that speaks to both the heart and the mind
· Sample letters and other forms of communication shared between professionals and parents
· Stories and examples of real-world conversations between parents and professionals
· Effective ways to handle difficult situations Rich with humor and heart, this highly readable book offers helpful steps for self reflection, personnel preparation, and parent-professional training. Educators and parents will find expert guidance for listening to each other's music, trying out each other's dance steps, and working toward a new dance that includes contributions from all—with the ultimate reward of seeing children achieve their highest potential.
"The parent-professional relationship can be awkward, so using the metaphor of learning to dance together to benefit children is apt. With the resources to help children shrinking, it is more vital than ever for parents and professionals to forge strong partnerships. This perspective can really help–highly recommended."—Robert A. Naseef, author of Special Children, Challenged Parents "I will use this book as a key text in my courses that include the topics of collaborative teaching, home-school partnerships, and conflict mediation. What a great book for modeling for new teachers the realities of collaboration in the IEP process and the best practices that make the process a joyful dance rather than a difficult experience."—Jacqueline Thousand, Professor, CSU San Marcos School of Education "Brilliantly written from the differing vantage points of both parents and professionals, this book shows how perceptions and assumptions can be falsely formed between 'opponents.' Use this knowledge to develop the strong partnerships necessary for parents and professionals to collaborate and support the needs of students!"—Kathy Brill, Board Member, Parent to Parent USA= "This book beautifully reminds us that social change happens through listening, dialogue, and engagement. Beneath our roles as professionals and parents, these authors gently help us to remember that 'we are all people first,' and through empathy we can find ways to sidestep—or dance—around many of the missteps that lead to misunderstanding and conflict. This book is a wonderful resource for anyone trying to navigate the complexities of supporting and advocating for disabled students in inclusive classrooms."—Emma Van der Klift and Norman Kunc, co-directors, Broadreach Training and Resources, British Columbia, Canada "Having attended many challenging problem-solving meetings, I know how important it is for families and professionals to keep open hearts and minds. This unique resource moves beyond the 'how to's' of effective communication and reminds us of the values that are central to any great team—generosity, creativity, and a willingness to learn from one another."—Paula Kluth, consultant and author, You're Going to Love This Kid: Teaching Students with Autism in the Inclusive Classroom 176 pages. 2012 Keywords: Providers, Caregivers, Parenting a child with a disability, parenting a special needs child, ,Special Education, Parent & Family Involvement, Early Childhood Special Education |
