Chapter 2
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH FAMILIES
OUTLINE
I. A Personal Perspective on Raising a Child with Developmental Problems
II. Emotional Needs of Families with Children Who Have Special Needs
A. Basic Needs
B. Failure of Consider Basic Needs
C. The Need for Emotional Support
III. Parental Reactions
A. Shock, Disbelief, and Denial
B. Anger and Resentment
C. Bargaining
IV. The Family as a System
V. Sibling and Extended Family Needs and Reactions
VI. Caregivers as Team Members
VII. Options for Family Involvement
A. A Continuum
B. What Fathers Say About Their Involvement
C. Home-Based Intervention Programs
D. Additional Important Considerations When Making Home Visits
VIII. Working With Culturally Diverse Families
A. Cultural Models and Childrearing Practices
B. Language Differences
IX. Working With Special Family Populations
A. Parents with Developmental Disabilities
B. Teen Parents
C. Foster Caregivers
X. Summary
XI. Discussion Topics and Activities
ESSENTIAL CONCEPTS AND VOCABULARY
Active listening
Coaching
Confidentiality
Cultural Models
Empathy
Empowered (empowerment)
Extended family subsystem
Family-centered intervention
TEST QUESTIONS – CHAPTER 2
Multiple Choice
1. Parent involvement in the education of young children
a. Is less important when children attend a preschool
b. Is rapidly being recognized as essential if children are to achieve their potential
c. Is not as important as had been thought, according to recent research
d. Is not practical, as most parents work
2. Parents of young children with disabilities often report that
a. They are confused because even the “experts” disagree about causes of
developmental delays
b. Their pediatrician called their attention to their child’s problem shortly after birth
c. They were told exactly how to help their child, and they were successful the first
time
d. Professionals who examined their child agreed on the cause of their child’s
problem
3. The successful education of special needs children demands
a. That parents accept the disability and are not emotional about the problem
b. That parents always remain calm and in command
c. That parents accept everything the professional tells them to do and do it without
questions
d. That an effective partnership exists between parents and professionals
4. A statement such as “It must be very frustrating and tiring to take your child to so many
medical appointments” shows
a. Bargaining
b. Crisis intervention
c. Empathy
d. All of the above
5. P.L. 105-17 (1997 Amendments to IDEA) set the stage for
a. Family-professional collaboration
b. Nondiscrimination for people with disabilities
c. Family-centered early intervention
d. All of the above
6. Understanding the differences between mainstream culture and the cultures of specific
families is critical to the _________ approach to intervention
a. Behaviorist
b. Developmental
c. Adaptive
d. Ecological
7. A childrearing practice that is not culture-sensitive is
a. Doing the best they can
b. Child independence
c. Parents as teachers
d. Discipline
8. Methods of increasing parent involvement are
a. Home-based interventions, passports, observations by parents
b. Written handouts, observations by parents, home-based interventions
c. Parent groups, written handouts, medical intervention
d. Passports, medical intervention, observations by parents
9. A good way to help parents with developmental disabilities is to
a. Provide a concrete, written list of things to do
b. Help parents interpret child’s behavior
c. Shift child care to someone in the home who is more capable
d. Explain what you want them to do at great length so they will understand
10. What is true of foster caregiving?
a. Foster caregiving is fortunately decreasing in the United States.
b. Early interventionists must be concerned about attachment and emotional
development in foster children.
c. Foster parents should be excused from participating in home and center activities.
d. A foster home is not appropriate for home visits.
True-False
1. Guidance about what to do now is a basic need of parents who seek professional help.
2. The first duty of the professional is to insist that parents face the child’s limitations.
3. Anger and resentment are the first expected parental reactions.
4. An interpreter is the same as a translator.
5. Families pass through developmental and nondevelopmental changes which produce varying
amounts of stress for all members.
6. Only parents should be included in conferences and planning.
7. Parent involvement is the best indicator of parent concern.
8. Formal meetings with all parents present should be conducted once-per-week in center-based
programs.
9. A family resource center is an excellent way to access parent support groups.
10. One area in which all cultures are similar is in infant-parent communication.
Short Answer
1. What are the four subsystems in Family Systems Theory?
2. What is a “passport”? How is it used?
4. What is often the first reaction of parents learning of a child’s disability?
5. List some resources likely to be helpful to teen parents who lack support.
6. Briefly compare the attitudes toward disabilities that are influenced by religion.
7. What is an “authoritarian” parenting style?
8. What is an “egalitarian” parenting style?
9. Briefly explain the differences between “individualistic” and “collectivist” views of
personal development and behavior.
10. Briefly explain the differences shown in parenting by child’s gender in different cultures.
Comprehensive Essay
1. Describe each of the emotional stages through which parents of children with disabilities
may pass and suggest ways in which teachers may be helpful to those parents.
2. List the basic needs of parents who seek professional help. How can teachers assist in the
fulfillment of those needs?
3. Roos identifies eight categories of mishandling of parents’ basic needs. Discuss these
categories.
4. Make a list of “Do’s” and “Don’ts” for teachers’ home visits.
5. Explain the continuum of parent involvement.
6. Explain the role of “active listening” in professional-parent interaction.
7. Discuss concerns and questions of siblings of children with disabilities. How can early
interventionists assist siblings?
8. Compare pros and cons of parent involvement in home-based and center-based programs.
9. Describe a model parent orientation meeting. How would you plan it? What are the
essential features before, during, and after the meeting?
CHAPTER TWO – ANSWER KEY