Entry #1

How do parents and siblings respond to the presence of a child with
disabilities in the family?
Parents face two problems: "the symbolic death of the child who was to be" and the feeling of shock, "denial, guilt, anger, and sadness"(Kirk, 16). First, every parent prays for a happy and healthy baby, but whenever that expectation is not fulfilled, the parents have to learn to accept the child that is born. This takes humility and love for the child, even if they are born with a disability. Secondly, parents begin to feel as if it is their fault for the child's health. Some parents may "react with severe depression" (Kirk, 16). There are a number of support groups open to parents with children who have disabilities. In addition to these problems faced by parents, they also face financial issues when caring for their children. Both parents and siblings must make it a priority to care for the well-being of the child with a disability, as they need daily care, and some of these children may not even be able to feed or clothe themselves. This task cannot be handled by just the parents, but only as a family. They all need to stick together to encourage and love one another, accepting them for who they are, not what they can or cannot do.
NYSCEC
GEC: The Guild for Exceptional Children

How does cultural diversity affect the future of exceptional children?
When a child has a disability, they have a hard time understanding school related material, and it becomes even harder when there is so much diversity in a classroom. Students come from different backgrounds or environments, which create misunderstandings for both students and teachers. If a teacher is from the United States and a student is from India or another foreign country, there may be both a language or religion barrier. The teacher needs to be aware of each student's background, and in this way, the teacher will be more apt to know how to reach each individual in a way that's easier for the student to learn. In addition, with all the changing technology, it is important for teachers to introduce this to exceptional children. Technology is a great learning tool to being with, such as using a computer or television to show a visual of a book that may have been read in class. This engages the students into a discussion, and will keep their attention more than if they student was just handed an assignment. When invovling the entire classroom in a group activity, students are more apt to remember what was discussed.
Cultural Diversity in the Classroom
Linguistic and Cultural Diversity