What are possible reasons why parents of special children lack follow-up to their child's education program? ?

Question

i am a part of a center for special needs people and it is often our dilemma as teachers that our students show little progress and more often we noticed that their parents are uninvolved to the program.yes! they attend PTC's and IEP conferences but they do not help in applying the program at home and despite the repeated explanations of how important follow-up and consistency is, they become so helpless when their children starts throwing tantrums.As a result, 90% of our students never obeys their parents.

Answer 1

i think if the child has special needs maybe the parents really deep down don't know how to help or maybe they get frustrated trying to help and give up. if you aren't slow then trying to teach a slow child something is very hard

Answer 2

I am a teacher (1st grade) and the mom of an 11 year-old autistic boy, so I see both sides to this question. I'm going to answer from a parent's perspective.  You have to remember that parents, in general, are trying as hard as they can.  They may be following up more than you think.  Parents can't focus entirely on that one child needs.  Usually there is more than one child at home.  When we're at work with special children our entire focus is on their education. There aren't dishes to wash, another child to go pick up at an activity, homework to help with, bills to be paid.  There is no going home to a neuro-typical life after the day is over.  As a teacher you can never be sure that the parents aren't following through more than you think.  Do the parents tell you that they aren't, or are you making an assumption?  I tell teachers when they say, "if only Johnny's parents would __ (fill in the blank) ___ he would function so much more highly".  You can't judge weather that child is functioning so at such a low level because of his parents or as highly as he/she is because of the parents.  Perhaps they are following up, but it isn't helping in that enviornment.  You'd have to be there with the parents  24/7 to make that judgment  I sought the advice of a behaviorist for some of my son's behaviors at home and her advice increased their frequency.  (I kept data).  I stopped and treated him as I would a typically developing child, placing him on time out and ignoring him since they were attention seeking.  The behaviors are nearly extinguished both at home and at school.  I have waited  over a year for my son's speech evaluation (required in his IEP)  to be completed.  It really frustrates me that it wasn't done on time, but I wouldn't conclude that his teachers weren't  doing their part.  The specialist is too booked to come out.  Finally it has been done.  

I'm not trying to be contrary, I simply want to present the parents' side.  I know from my own classroom teaching experience that there are two sides to this question.   Almost always both  the teachers and parents are trying to do their best.

Answer 3

You need to remember that the parents of children with special needs often do not have the benefit of a special educator degree or years of experience. They did not choose this field and may have zero experience with special needs children outside of raising their own child.

They are often still grieving over the diagnoses that their child received. When the school sees the child, they set up a program and follow it. There have not the broken dreams, broken families, depression or loss of hope to manage along with the program.  

Support the families, ask them to follow-up on one thing at a time. Prioritize and let them see the improvements that the follow-up has resulted in. Encourage them, remind them and provide them with hope.

I often think that if the family could only receive more support the child in need would benefit so much more.

Answer 4

Well it is good to know that that problem is not just confined to the country I work in!

There is definitely a " Well you put it right for us!" attitude in operation here.

I do think that shame and fear also play a big part in the problem, which comes back to society not being educated properly.

We really, really need to start celebrating these wonderful people and showing just how amazing they can be when they work to overcome their challenges.

Maybe then parents and family members will feel proud and begin to do everything they can to enable the special children  

Answer 5

at the end of the day you can easily put your coat on, jump in your car and not have to deal w' that child until tomorrow - not the parent.  

sometimes all that is needed is a little bit of support and encouragement - and not just a pat on the back - work with the parent and teach them some techniques on dealing with certain situations.

  

Answer 6

I have a special needs child I take the time to go to the meetings. help with home work. I always hear how badly other children are doing at school and parents blame the school. But really if we all took the time to help our kids then there wont be so many failing. May be parents should be told that education does not only fall to the teachers but us as parents as well. and that we have a moral obligation to our kids.

Answer 7

It depends on the parent. I think some parents just simply don't care. Other parents have long work hours and don't get to spend much time with there children therefore they can't help the child fellow a routine. Other parents get home late and are to tired to argue with the child and just let the child does as he or she pleases. I would advise these parents to take parenting classes. As well as to take there child to a psychologist not a school psychologist because we maybe dealing with behavior children hear, who may need medication, or some other form of treatment thats doesn't involve medication. I have ADD so I can relate. E-mail me if you want to chatt more about this: [e-mail]