Self-knowledge and Self-advocacy for our Special Needs Kids
Universal questions for parents raising a special needs child are “What will become of my child? What kind of life will he have? What can I do to help my child?” Providing a balance of support to our children along with tools for self-reliance is an art.We must support self-knowledge and self-advocacy for our children across their lifespan. Doing so will help us create an independent future for our child with disabilities. I am a strong advocate of encouraging self-knowledge as early as possible. By the time our kids are teenagers, we want to have fostered a sense of empowerment and self-acceptance. I loved the poetry performed by the empowered teen on this youtube video and I am sure you will too. I give his mother and father a lot of credit! Brave New Voices http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eN_iXWCgzQ
Dr. Helene Walisever, PhD
Helene Walisever, PhD, is a licensed Clinical Psychologist and Education Advocate. She is a nationally recognized Tourette Syndrom Education Specialist. Dr. Walisever received the 2012 Distinguished Educator Award from the National Tourette Syndrome Association for her work educating parents and schools to support children with Tourette Syndrome. She believes that educators and parents can develop strong partnerships to create programs to meet children’s particular learning needs. Dr. Walisever offers training and support to school personnel and families in collaborative consultation. She offers a realistic view of challenging situations and provides a constructive environment to achieve meaningful results. Solutions are sought with fairness and compassion.
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