The text gives strategies for partnering with families; list two strategies that you would use and explain why you chose them, and how you would implement these strategies.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Students should choose from the following strategies:
a. Listen to parents/student expectations, concerns, and fears about their child living independently.
b. Link the parent and student to the appropriate person/organization who can answer questions about such matters as Social Security, special needs trusts, independent living supports, guardianship, and so forth.
c. Help the parent to process their concerns and decisions that need to be made. Be mindful not to interject opinion. Respect the values of families.
d. Encourage parents to allow their child to make decisions and to have opportunities to act independently.
e. Help parents complete necessary paperwork to apply for supports through state and government agencies. The support will ensure follow-through and, in the long run, will reduce paper workload of educators.
f. Take time to understand how the family’s cultural background may impact decisions that are made regarding future decisions regarding independent living.
g. Learn from the family how they are already connected to the community in order to understand ways in which the student might be able to leverage the family’s social network and involve the student in the community.