Family interview for class about young children with special needs

[TifaSheep]

Hi, I'm in a class to learn about working with very young children with special needs. A part of this class is an interview with a family member of a child 0-6 receiving services. If you're willing to answer a few questions about yourself and your child, I'd really appreciate it!

0. Tell me about yourself.

1. Tell me about your child.
2. What was your experience when special needs were first identified?
3. What type of services has your child received?
4. How happy have you been with these services?
5. Does your child attend an early education program? If so, was it easy to find an
6. appropriate program for your child? How is your relationship with the program?
7. What are your favorite things to do with your child?
8. What has been most challenging for you and your child? Have there been any challenges
9. for you as a family?
10. What would you like teachers and other professionals to know about your child? What
11. things have teachers and professionals done that have been most helpful to you?
12. Is there anything else you would like to talk about or let me know about your child?

1. Tell me about your child.

Our son is 3.5, with severe language delays and suspected autism. He is seemingly a gesalt language processor, he has 3 words but a few random phrases/approximations on top.

1. What was your experience when special needs were first identified?

Health visitors were very dismissive, took 4 months to get them to refer him to services.

1. What type of services has your child received?

Portage for 8 hours for activities around development. 2 hours of speech therapy with the NHS. Been seen once by a paedtrician.

1. How happy have you been with these services?

They're lovely, but it's just not enough. You are expected to be your own childs therapist essentially.

1. Does your child attend an early education program? If so, was it easy to find an
2. appropriate program for your child? How is your relationship with the program?

We had to look round a few nurseries to find one but the one we have is excellent.

What are your favorite things to do with your child?
Reading a book to him and enjoying outdoors.

1. What has been most challenging for you and your child? Have there been any challenges
2. for you as a family?

Communication in general and just the lack of available support and how much you have to fight for the minimal support.

1. What would you like teachers and other professionals to know about your child? What
2. things have teachers and professionals done that have been most helpful to you?

That you should be aware everything with trial and error with my child. It's been most helpful when they've gone to professionals for advice themselves.

1. Is there anything else you would like to talk about or let me know about your child? No