Task One
Research a LD journal article of interest to you. Create a two-page presentation of your choice or create a two-page brochure for guardians / parents.
Include the reference source.
Fernández-Alcántara, M., Correa-Delgado, C., Muñoz, Á., Salvatierra, M. T., Fuentes-Hélices, T., & Laynez-Rubio, C. (2017). Parenting a Child with a Learning Disability: A Qualitative Approach. International Journal of Disability, Development, and Education, 64(5), 526–543. https://doi.org/10.1080/1034912X.2017.1296938
A brief summary.
This is a qualitative study that describes experiences associated with parenting children who have been diagnosed with learning disabilities. The study looks at parents of children who have diagnoses that include learning disabilities, ADHD, and Asperger syndrome that cause the children to have difficulty at school. The themes that came about as a result of this study are: emotions of parents, diagnosis and cause, daily experiences, social relationships, and worries about the future. The adults studied were from a varied demographic in terms of gender, highest academic level, living arrangements, and employment. The children in question were approximately 7-14 years of age.
Implications.
According to the article, the diagnosis of a learning disability can impact the family, creating emotional responses that can impact the relationship between the parents and the child.
Important to know:
-Parents of children with ADHD have been found to worry about medication because of it's usefulness but also because of the side effects.
-Mothers of children with dyslexia (reading disability) tend to have anxiety. Parents of children with LDs worry about school performance, their child's behaviour, and what the future holds for their child.
-Children with Asperger syndrome are looped in with children with non-verbal LDs in this study (and in the DSM-V). Parents of these children worry about their child's future/adulthood as well as their social-emotional development.
Findings:
emotions of parents
-reports of sadness and frustration
-many perceived themselves as bad parents because of the frustration they've felt in trying to help their child
-guilt, helplessness for not knowing how to cope or help the child
-blame themselves for not knowing how to manage child's behaviour
-trouble establishing emotional bond with the child
diagnosis and cause
-some parents feel less stressed out if they realize that the disability is a neuro-cognitive impairment that has nothing to do with parenting
-some parents have trouble accepting that the LD can't be overcome with hard work and willpower
daily experiences
1. at home
-ADHD is a constant battle (e.g., when doing homework or experiencing changes in routine)
-desperation when trying to get the child to do daily things, such as take a shower or get to school on time
-medication helps, but parents feel guilt about side effects
2. relations with teachers
-parents perceive teachers to be an obstacle if the teacher does not understand and adapt to the LD
-parents worry about the treatment their children are receiving at school -- some do not want their child to get special treatment
3. positive aspects of the child
-parents are proud of the efforts of their children to overcome their LD
-parents highlight the positive aspects of their children's character
-parents are appreciative of their child's talents
social relationships
-worry that their children are loners at school
-worry about conflicts with other children
-worry about trouble understanding other kids' point of view or feelings
-worry about emotions of shame and low self-esteem
-worry about bullying
worries about the future
-worry about academic performance and transition to high school
-worry about what happens when the child goes off their medications
-worries about dependence on the medication, addiction
-worries about issues of social isolation
Translation to the classroom.
As an educator working in a self-contained LD classroom, it is important to me to be able to understand the home life side of the child, which includes how their parents approach life with an LD. Especially in cases where the LD diagnosis is new, I want to understand what the concerns might be so I can try to foster a partnership with the parents that is founded on understanding and trust. The complexity that comes with multiple diagnoses, such as LD and ADHD, could be even more of a struggle for parents, and I want to be able to help by discussing strategies that we can use at school and at home.
Seek feedback from your presentation, ie., Exit Card, Three Wishes, etc.
