Parents and Professionals Partnering for Children With Disabilities
A Dance That Matters
- Janice M. Fialka - Dance of Partnership
- Arlene K. Feldman - Educational Consultant, Adjunct, SUNY, New Paltz, Retired Director of Special Education, Valley Central School District, Montgomery, NY
- Karen C. Mikus - Clinical Psychologist
Foreword by Ann P. Turnbull
Cultivate effective partnerships between parents and professionals through honest, respectful and skillful communication
The authors draw upon the metaphor of "dance" to better understand the complexities and possibilities of forming partnerships between educators, administrators, early childhood providers, therapists, support staff, other professionals, and parents of children with disabilities. This revised edition of Do You Hear What I Hear? Parents and Professionals Working Together for Children With Special Needs is rich with stories, examples, and practical insights. This book, written from both the parent's and the professional's points of view, provides a developmental approach to understanding and forging positive adult relationships, while also providing concrete ways to advocate for children. The authors' years of experience as successful consultants, trainers, and educators lends this helpful resource a deep sense of realism and compassion. They remind the reader of how essential the parent-professional partnership is—and why it IS a dance that matters.
Key features include:
- Practical insights and evidence-based approaches to forming partnerships
- Easy-to-read, non-technical language that speaks to both the heart and the mind
- Sample letters and other forms of communication shared between professionals and parents
- Stories and examples of real-world conversations between parents and professionals
- Effective ways to handle difficult situations
Rich with humor and heart, this highly readable book offers helpful steps for self reflection, personnel preparation, and parent-professional training. Educators and parents will find expert guidance for listening to each other's music, trying out each other's dance steps, and working toward a new dance that includes contributions from all—with the ultimate reward of seeing children achieve their highest potential.
Flip to page 7 for a review of the book in the Family Matter @ School Newsletter!
“The authors have done the near impossible—they have described the process of partnership in a way that is both easily accessible and incredibly nuanced. They provide a developmental roadmap and the concrete tools we need to make partnerships work. In this book, I have finally found the resource I need.”
“The approach of this book is fresh, current and multifaceted without being complicated. The authors have skillfully woven multiple and complex family and professional perspectives into a well-integrated whole that is thoughtful, clear, and explicit. The material is relevant, useful, and extraordinarily helpful to a wide variety of dance partners.”
“This book comes from the heart of an author who knows both sides. The content is relevant, immediately useful, and encourages us to think deeply about ourselves and how we can apply the information to make a difference—all evidence-based components of effective adult learning.”
“The authors never forget that it is all about the children/students with disabilities—so the adults just need to figure it out! They include many subtle examples of how inclusion can work throughout the book. An important take-away message is that becoming true partners takes time and is a process.”
“The authors help readers understand that relationships are about human needs and feelings and that partnerships only develop to their potential when each party can both share and listen to content and facts as well as the needs and feelings of the other. This book is destined to be a classic. Give it to someone you care about; and read it yourself reflectively.”
“The authors of this book offer a welcomed, kind and needed message for both professionals and parents: slow the pace, stop and listen. The authors know we build each partnership one at a time. This is a message we desperately need to get into higher education and professional development communities.”
“This book reminds teachers and professionals to include parents in the timeline of the special education process. The information that parents contribute and different perspective they provide can help us understand the whole child. As I finished this book, I developed a more open perspective to working with parents.”
“I will use this book as a key text in my courses that include the topics of collaborative teaching, home-school partnerships, and conflict mediation. What a great book for modeling for new teachers the realities of collaboration in the IEP process and the best practices that make the process a joyful dance rather than a difficult experience.”
“Using understandable, jargon-free language, the authors help professionals and parents understand each others’ viewpoints. The text also provides practical tips and suggestions about how to work together collaboratively. I highly recommend this book for novice and veteran parents and professionals.”
“I found myself nodding in agreement with virtually all the points made in this book. The process is, indeed, a dance. Although one would think we have mastered dancing, each student, each family, each day brings forth a new dance. As partners and parents we need to tweak out that uniqueness in the child together.”