Paige Grosjean

Emily Gerken

EDU 220

6/23/2015

Parent Interview

Ever since I was younger children have always had a special place in my

heart. After high school I thought I wanted to go to nursing school, not knowing that

isn’t what I was really suppose to do. Once I figured out I really wanted to be an

Early Childhood Education teacher, I was much happier. Little did I know I would

want to go further and teach special education, but when I sat in on a class my heart

just melted and I knew that’s what I was suppose to do.

I was a little nervous going to a parent’s house of a child with a disability,

only because I didn’t want to say or ask anything to offend her or her child. Although

when I got there she was very friendly and made me feel very comfortable. I enjoyed

this experience very much and learned a lot. We read stories about parents and

their children with disabilities, but it was nice to talk to someone in person and get

their perspective.

I loved talking to Annette, the way she talks about Cierra and everything they

have been through is so positive. She never once said its made life harder or made it

sound like she with she never would have had a child with a disability. I really loved

her passion for her child and the outlook on life her whole family had for her sweet

child Cierra. I can only hope every parent of a child with a disability can be like
Annette and if I get blessed with a child with a disability that I would be just as great

as her.

Cierra is a bright, intelligent, and outgoing 12-year-old girl who has spastic

diplegia, which is a form of cerebral palsy, and she also has autism. This doesn’t stop

this outgoing seventh grader from going to school at Sara’s Garden in Wauseon.

There she gets conductive education, which is all education in one. Annette said

when they moved Cierra there and all her education was all in one, she saw great

strides and a difference from when she went to the public school.

The first time they realized their child wasn’t developing typically was right

after she was born. When Cierra was born it was a very complicated delivery and

she wasn’t breathing. For three months after Cierra was born she was horribly

bruised and that’s when they started their journey going from doctor to doctor and

figure out how to help their baby girl. It took several doctors before they found a

physiatrist who actually diagnosed her.

Most families have to face some challenges when taking care of a child with a

disability. Annette said, other than some minor changes they had to make in their

daily routine, there really weren’t any problems or challenges they had to deal with.

One thing they did have to change was parking closer when they go places, she can’t

walk very far without getting tired. Also for a while there after Cierra was born they

had to carry her everywhere, but she was working on learning how to walk alone.

One goal Cierra and her family are working on right now is Cierra being able

to do her personal hygiene on her own. Her parents right now still have to help her

in the shower and brush her teeth. Cierra cant stand in the shower for very long,
which is another challenge, they have to face. A long term gold they have for her is

for Cierra to get a job and eventually live on her own. I got to talk to Cierra a bit and

she wants to be a veterinarian when she grows up.

When I asked Annette about how the school involved her in the process of

the IEP process, she was very pleased with how they go about it. Annette told me

they pretty much leave it all up to the parents. Although the teachers would say

what they think also needed to be done, they would ask what they parents thought

about their ideas before making it a permanent decision.

For Cierra her communication is difficult for her. Most people don’t

understand what she is saying unless you have known her for a while. Although her

communication is difficult, that doesn’t stop Cierra from having a bunch of friends.

When it comes to academics, Cierra had caught up to where she needs to be in every

subject, except math. She loves school and that helps her achieve in her academics.

For a few years Cierra was homeschooled by her mom before she started going to

Sara’s Garden.

Some advice Annette said she would give parents is to always ask questions

no matter what. Don’t let them make decisions you don’t want for your child.

Another piece of advice she gave was if you aren’t comfortable with the doctor you

have, switch. There is a doctor out there that will help you and will make you

comfortable. Some advice she gave for someone who wants to teach children with

disabilities is to be patient because it can get frustrating and not be afraid to try new

things, every child learns different.

 Some strengths of Cierra’s that we talked about were that she loves reading

and is really good at it. Also she is always a joy, most of the time she always has a

smile on her face and has really showed her family how to have a good outlook on

life no matter what. Last she is really good with other people and had a ton of

friends, no one had bullied her.