Hi everyone! I work with individuals with disabilities and with their families. Last year I went back to school to expand my knowledge. There is an assignment that I could use some help with and hoping to find the help here.
In this assignment I am to examine the implications on family roles and structure, life stages, stressors, and supports, etc. I am supposed to ask families 12-15 questions that gains insight and information about families. I am looking for questions that you have been asked before about you, your child and/or family. Or questions that you wish have been asked, or any question that might be helpful. Some of the sample questions that I have been offered are:
-when you first learned that your child had a disability how did you feel?
-what had been the most helpful (or not) for you in terms of support our services?
-what are done of the things that your child had taught you?
-what are done of the gifts that you're child brings to their community?
Also if there is anyone who would like to answer the questions that I come up with for my paper that would be appreciated as well. I look forward to hearing from anyone.
What kind of help are you looking for? Information?
My teacher is looking for questions to ask families about their family, what they have been going through, etc. Then I am to use the questions to interview 2 people and compare the answers. So I am looking for questions that families have been asked, wished they have been asked, or questions that they have asked others.
Very few people have ever asked me questions about my asperger or the autism in my family. I can only remember on time that I have been asked what it was like to have Asperger. I told her imagine not being able to see or interpret the emotions of others. No man is an island, we all have to get along with each other. Asperger makes it difficult in most aspects of life from friends, relationships, jobs, schooling, etc. I wish people would ask more question and not make assumptions. I wish people would ask about some of the stereotypical behaviors of autism (flapping or spinning) and not assume we are "crazy". I wish when a misunderstanding or mistake occurs that people would ask why we did want we did. The thought process of autistic people is different, hence the word neurotypical a word used to refer to normal people. I had difficulty with most of the jobs I had through the years. I wish employer's would ask what they can do to make things easier rather than skip right to discipline. I find employer either don't ask or fail to follow through with the requests, All I can say it is amazing how few questions I been asked by even people close to me about me or my autistic son. All people see is some acting or some that is weird, but they don't bother to look beyond that.
@charm27 I’m sorry to hear that very few people have shown you or your son the understanding and support that you need. In the few years that I have worked in the field I have noticed that there is a lack of understanding, and a lack of wanting to understand. I believe that society needs to start questioning and listening, before assuming anything. If you ever need to chat I will listen. I Thankyou for replying to my post.
-when you first learned that your child had a disability how did you feel?
I learned he was autistic at three years old. I was sadden when I found out I didn't want my child to go through the same struggles I had/have in life. We only want the best when it comes to our children and we don't want the next generation to suffer. Some of these things are not avoidable.
-what had been the most helpful (or not) for you in terms of support services?
Referral to programs like ABA which for a time had funding to offer the program to local parents/families. Referral to other local parents with children with autism. Sometimes just having someone look after the interests of my child was enough.
-what are done of the things that your child had taught you?
To be happy. There is a hard edge or negativity that adults can develop than children don't general have. Despite what was happening in my life my child seems to help me put things in perspective.
-what are done of the gifts that you're child brings to their community?
I guess to remember to like the simple things and that everybody has worth. You don't have to have a huge business, a doctor's degree, or large amounts of money to be important. We are all have valve to other people no matter where we are in life. Truffles_15 thank you for your offer good luck with you studies.