My Child and Me: Traversing The Educational Terrain
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
11-27-2006
Abstract
Background/Context: The study emanated from interviews with caregivers of children with disabilities. We sought a way to convey the emotional power in the parents’ voices.
Purpose: The purpose of the study was to understand parents’ perceptions and convey them through a creative vehicle, inviting consumers of the research to become participants in the meaning-making process through their active engagement with the text.
Research Design: This investigation is a secondary analysis of two qualitative studies exploring the school experiences of parents of children with exceptionalities. Both original studies consisted of structured interviews; caregivers discussed their experiences raising a child with a disability and their interactions with the educational system.
Conclusion: Results indicate that most of the participants experienced multiple challenges with the educational system, specifically related to their child’s behavior. Several caregivers recalled being asked repeatedly to come and pick up their child and questioned the effectiveness of this strategy. In many cases, they shared frustration at the expectations others had for their children and spoke of their hopes and dreams for the future. All expressed concern over what will happen when they are no longer here to look after their child.
Their stories also revealed resiliency and advocacy efforts as they strove to ensure their children received necessary services. Many of the parents spoke about both positive and negative experiences with school personnel and several expressed gratitude for a specific teacher that had reached out to them and their child.
Each of the participants’ stories was powerful and moved us to reflect on our own experiences as researchers, educators, parents, and relatives of children with exceptionalities. In considering how to best present the data, we determined that a performance piece would be the most appropriate venue. It is our belief that a product such as this would serve as a beneficial teaching tool in the preparation of pre-service and practicing teachers to work with caregivers of children with exceptionalities.
Citation / Publisher Attribution
Teachers College Record, posted on November 27, 2006
Scholar Commons Citation
McHatton, Patricia Alvarez and Shaunessy, Elizabeth, "My Child and Me: Traversing The Educational Terrain" (2006). Teaching and Learning Faculty Publications. 141.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/tal_facpub/141
