You Said What?!? Practical Communication Strategies

1. You Said What?!?Practical Communication Strategies Teresa Mebane Matt Oakley Debbie Stout August 18, 2014

2. GPP (Group Presentation Plan not to be confused with IEP) • Welcome/Introductions Deb • Overview Deb • Clip • Meetings and more Matt • Parents Point of View Teresa • Questions(if time) Deb

3. Overview https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWNYnVFL2Cc ?

4. Pre-meeting • As a team… * When are they necessary       * What should be discussed/What should NOT be discussed     * Between the team and family • What we can do to ease anxieties and be transparent

5. Meetings/Follow-up • Meetings/Follow-up *Roles of the team     *Use of Jargon     *Ongoing communication with families - Team building

6. Non-verbal Communication • Importance of the meeting - for professionals and for families • What we communicate with families - body language, texting, engaged listening • What families are non-verbally communicating with us Posture Supports         Attendance

7. What the Parent Brings to the Relationship • Changes after the diagnosis • Day to day life • Dreams • Priorities • Relationships • The way they think of themselves and their child

8. What the Parent Brings to the Relationship • Fear • Sadness • Inadequacy • Guilt • Protectiveness • Confusion • Isolation • Hopefulness • Anger

9. What the Parent Brings to the Relationship • Past history with professionals • Negative experiences-misdiagnosis, rejection, rejection of child • Positive experiences- “savior” at critical time • Physical impact of parenting • Sleep deprivation and physical exhaustion • No time to relax, always on alert • Cumulative effect of stress • Parents own physical/mental health issues

10. PERCEPTIONS • Parents can’t be objective • Parents are overprotective • Professionals not understanding the uniqueness of each student • Too little communication between school and home • Not taking the parent’s fears seriously • Not being listened to

11. PERCEPTIONS • Professionals not understanding the relationship of child behavior to the disability • Feeling outnumbered at meetings • Use of negative body language during meetings- eye rolling, closed body posture, clock watching • Feeling patronized

12. Prevent Problems by… • Getting to know the family • Step into the family’s world • Ask about family’s experience with the “system” • Put family behavior in context • Use information you learn to prevent problems and set goals • Connect the family with resources • Listen

13. Prevent Problems by… • Develop a foundation of trust • Show that you see the individual, not just the diagnosis • Help parents appreciate their strengths • Keep family information confidential • Respect professional/parent boundaries • Accept that conflicts are inevitable • Don’t take parent behavior personally

14. US • Teresa Mebane Family Support Network fsnsoutheastern@gmail.com • Matthew Oakley Preschool Specialist matther.oakly@nhcs.net • Debbie Stout Special Education Liaison deborah.stout@nhcs.net

15. THANKS!! Have a wonderful year and we appreciate YOU!!