From: Pat Linkhorn, Parent Mentor link@se-guernsey.net
Date: 12/8/98
Time: 10:33:07 PM
Remote Name: 209.190.104.18
As a parent of two children with disabilities, and as a parent mentor who works with other parents who have children who receive special education services, I feel strength based assesments are a positive approach. It would certainly help many parents overcome their anxiety over IEP meetings if they knew the discussion would center around their children's strengths, rather than all their problems.
It would also be advantageous for my daughter with autism if this had been the approach over the years. Her many inadequacies seem to consitute the bulk of the material in her MFE's. Her many strengths have been overlooked until recently when we brought in an outside consultant to point them out to the teachers. However, I question whether this approach would work with my younger daughter, who is visually impaired. Focusing on her weaknesses helps us know what we need to work on. It seems this type of assessment wouldn't work for all children. Is there any criteria to determine which children receive these assessments?
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