Family members share the experience of having a specials needs child
Students gain insight and understanding from “real world” families
Family as Faculty (FAF) is a collaboration between educators and families of children with disabilities. Through this partnership students can hear first hand what it is like for the families of the children that they work with. The “Family as Faculty” program strives to develop relationships between families and educators to deepen the understanding of the family perspective, develop closer communications with families, and provide students with more knowledge and skills that will increase their ability and commitment to meeting students’ learning needs.
“This provides pre-service students a family member’s perspective on disability” says Dr. Linda Gessner, the coordinator of FAF. The families who present have the opportunity to describe the challenges they have experienced or are experiencing initiating or accessing services with early intervention, schools, and the community, as well as, the effective strategies used by service providers and educators to assist their family.
The family members who participate as educators receive training which includes the rationale for family participation and increase knowledge of pre-service personnel. The families are also subsidized for the time they spend training as well as the presentations they make. Through their presentations the families offer unique perspectives of children of different ages and disabilities. Each presentation also covers a wide range of educational experiences and challenges that the family has gone through.
The partnership is made possible by the FSU/FAMU Regional PDP whose mission is to increase the number of qualified service personnel and teachers for individuals with disabilities throughout North Florida. The partnership encompasses 14 school districts which include: Calhoun, Columbia, Franklin, Gadsden, Hamilton, Jackson, Jefferson, Lafayette, Leon, Liberty, Madison, Suwannee, Taylor, and Wakulla not to mention 5 community colleges, FSU, FAMU, Flagler College, parents, Early Steps programs, and other related school and community programs.
For more information visit the FAF website at http:/familyasfaculty.fsu.edu/.