I believe that parents and teachers do the best they can - under the circumstances! What circumstances? The answer can be complex, but if you are a parent or a teacher dealing with a child who may have special needs, those needs are the primary circumstances!

Parents and teachers must be able to communicate effectively in order for students to thrive to the best of their ability. Unfortunately, many challenges can interfere with a child's progress in school. And - the more frustrated parents and teachers get as they try to deal with those challenges, the more home/school interactions can look like a battlefield instead of a collaboration.

In my experience, both parents and teachers experience the major stresses that come with designing appropriate educational interventions for kids who are struggling - those who function "outside the box. And, children have been shown to benefit immensely when positive partnerships are formed between their parents and the school.

For parents of special needs kids, the challenges might be:

• ordinary tasks that become anxiety-provoking: enrolling your child in a new school; shopping for school supplies; helping with homework; getting to school on time; preparing for the field trip; and lots of others; 
• coping with family and friends who may not understand - and who may be questioning your parenting skills;
• parent/teacher conferences where you feel as though you just get more negative feedback about your child;
• parent/teacher conferences where, even if the feedback is positive, you still get one more reminder of your child's struggles;

• complicated forms and meetings that don't always make sense, when all you want is to get your child an education - and make it through the school year;
• struggling to remember that you need to pay attention to your child's strengths - and to make sure the school does that, too;
• reassuring your discouraged child - even when you, yourself, could use some reassuring;
• coping with the guilt, anger, sadness, and other feelings that often come with having a child who is "different;"
• school district bureaucracies; 

• and - so many others................   

For teachers of special needs kids, the challenges might be:

• coping with all the legal requirements to offer an adapted educational program - while you are trying to teach the rest of the class;
• trying not to see the behavioral differences of some kids as a discipline problem - and justifying different treatment of one student, to yourself and to others;
• parent/teacher conferences with anxious family members who don't seem to understand your view of their child's work and behavior;

• all the adults in the world of the special needs child - other teachers, assistants, educational specialists, tutors, counselors, administrators, and, of course, parents - all of whom seem to feel free to drop in at any time of day; 
• finding the time to prepare adapted educational materials and lessons, while attending all the required conferences and meetings;
• school district bureaucracies; 

• and - so many others................

If any of this sounds familiar, if you struggle with any of these issues, I'd like to help. I offer counseling or consultation (as appropriate) to help parents and schools communicate more effectively with each other.

If you'd like some more information about my services, please contact me to schedule an appointment or to arrange a free phone consultation.