You, as a professional within the school, have begun working on a case involving an 8-year-old Hispanic boy. All evaluations indicate that the child has a mental disability. How would you notify the family of the news? What are some key considerations in this particular case that may affect how you proceed?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Ans: Provide information using the family’s desired language and preferred means of communication
Give deference to key decision makers in the family
Use culturally competent interpreters
Seek cultural informants from the local community who can assist teachers in understanding culturally relevant variables
Attend social events and other functions held in the local community
Develop a survival vocabulary in family’s native language
Address parents and other caregivers as Mr., Ms., or Mrs. rather than using first names
Be sensitive to possible barriers to meetings, ie., scheduling conflicts
Conduct meetings in family-friendly settings
Invite community volunteers to serve as cultural liaisons between the school and the student’s family.