1. The Wellness of Parents of Children with Disabilities Carin Page

2. How Families Feel… Welcome to Holland http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqGQjo Tn2xY

3. Questions… What affect does having a child with disabilities have on a parent? How does having a child with disabilities affect the relationship between parents? How does having a child with disabilities affect the other children in the family? How can teachers support the wellness of families of our students with disabilities?

4. What affect does having a child withspecial needs have on a parent? Rewarding and Challenging role Additional Responsibilities Support At Risk for –Burnout –Mental health –Healthy home environment –Relationship problems

5. Children and adults share the same six categories of basic needs. NeedsWays Needs are Met Physical Needsadequate nutrition, water, sleep, and exercise Emotional NeedsSecurity, trust, and intimacy Social Needstime with peers and companions Intellectual Needs met by reading, engaging in healthy debates, and joining lively discussions Spiritual Needsa need to belong, live a purposeful life, and believe in a greater power Creative Needscan be met through explorations of culture, unique dress, and expositions of talents and gifts

6. How does having a child with special needsaffect the relationship between parents? Divorce rate significantly increased Grieving and Acceptance Financial burdens Isolation from family/friends Anger taken out on the other children

7. How does having a child with specialneeds affect the other children in thefamily? Other children may feel resentment, ashamed, fear Can be used as an opportunity to teach appreciation of human differences, empathy, compassion, and pride in being a helper

8. Support groups for siblings Provide age appropriate information Encourage communication with typically developing children Early in life, brothers and sisters worry about what obligations they will have toward their sibling in the days to come. Parents should be encouraged to plan for the future and share these plans with their children. Siblings…

9. Research supports the position that a strong family-school partnership is an integral part of any early childhood program that is based upon best practice research. Although strong evidence supports quality partnerships between teachers and their students' families, many teachers enter the profession with inadequate dispositions, skills, and knowledge needed to promote the partnerships that support students in the achievement of their educational potential. One of the most frequently mentioned barriers to family involvement in schools is the lack of teacher preparation in the area of promoting teacher-family involvement. The role of teacher education in preparing teachers to meet the challenges of developing reciprocal relationships with families must be addressed in order to reap the ultimate benefits that family involvement can offer. BUILDING TEACHER-FAMILY PARTNERSHIPS: THE ROLE OF TEACHER PREPARATION PROGRAMS; Education; Spring2009, Vol. 129 Issue 3, p495-505, 11p

10. How can teachers support the familiesof our students with disabilities? Encourage families reach out to friends, couples therapy, spiritual leaders. Suggest books that have stories about other parents going through the same struggle Link parents to parent organizations Encourage focus on self-care, physical self-care and eating well. Encourage parents to be active in their child's education

11. RESOURCES Websites www.disaboom.com www.theARC.org Books Married with Special-Needs Children by Laura Marshak and Fran Prezant The Elected Lady - Finding Victory in the Challenge by Norma Stanley Journals Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities Journal of Special Education Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders Education