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Julia Sansom
Family Interview
Samford University

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SPED Family Interview

I received the incredible opportunity to interview a hardworking and passionate
mother of a child that has various special needs. Her journey with her child has been full
of surprises, victories, disappointments, and an abundance of love. I learned so much
from my time speaking with this mother, and I believe that I will continue to gain wisdom
on interacting with parents of special needs children throughout my teaching career.
Her child has severe epilepsy and is on the autism spectrum. This child has
received several surgeries and therapies through the years. At just over a year old this
child was identified as having epilepsy. Soon after the child had several surgeries one of
which the child had a Vagus Nerve Stimulation implant put in. A VNS implant is very
similar to a pacemaker but it is for the brain rather than the heart. The function of a VNS
is to prevent seizures by sending frequent mild pulses of electrical energy to the brain
through the vagus nerve (Schachter & Saper, 2005). The mother explained to me that if
her child has a seizure a specific magnet is placed over the site of the VNS implantation
and held there for several seconds and the seizure should cease.
The child was later identified as being on the autism spectrum. The mother
explained to me that she did not consider autism as the root reason behind some of the
delays her child was experiencing. When I asked the mother what some pivotal moments
were for her and her child we told me about their first experience with therapy. Her child
began receiving therapies such as speech, occupational, and physical therapy. She
explained to me that her child was not responding as she and the professionals involved
were hoping. Her child was chronically crying throughout the therapy sessions. The

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mother explained to me that she and her husband put much prayer into the situation, and
came to the conclusion that they were going to take the upcoming summer off from the
therapy sessions. She expressed that the summer was filled with exponential growth for
her child. She said that she was able to closely bond, and build a stronger line of trust
with her child that summer. The mother said that they spent many of their days at the
pool, which was very physically beneficial for her child. The mother had a huge smile of
joy spread across her face as she spoke about their memories from that summer, and the
amazing progress the child made physically and emotionally. She said that when her child
returned that fall to therapy, the chronic crying had ceased and the therapy began to be a
valuable and proactive experience for her child. I thought this was an amazing account of
how in tune parents are with their child. This mother sought wisdom from the Lord and
decided to go at the issue with a unique approach; pull back, rather than push ahead with
the therapy her child was receiving when she felt it wasnt proactive at that point in her
childs life.
Since this experience the mother and her family have moved from their home
state to a new state. She explained to me that she was very dissatisfied with the services
available for special needs children in the new area. She said that the two states have very
different coverage requirements as far as insurance goes, and there are very limited
options of therapy programs in the area they are in now.
Currently, the mother has decided to homeschool all of her children. The mother
spent a great deal of time with me walking through the curriculum she uses with her
children. She has been homeschooling for several years now and explained the
progression that has occurred from one year to the next. She explained that there is a

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great deal of trial and error with homeschooling a special needs student. She began their
journey with implementing Montessori inspired sensory activities. She has accumulated a
large amount of materials over the years and she said that she tries to focus on materials
that will help develop the childs fine and gross motor skills. She also utilizes a swing to
help meet some of her childs sensory needs. She said that this has helped her child find
an outlet to fulfill their sensory need. Before they had these different things at the house
she said her child would be hanging on couch and chairs to get that sensory interaction.
Now with different sensory outlets, her child is able to fulfill that need in a constructive
fashion.
Currently, the mothers child with special needs is working on kindergarten
curriculum. She uses a mixture of homeschooling curriculum, although she said that her
child responds best to video or app based instruction such as Letter School. I explained
to her that I am currently serving in a special needs preschool classroom and that I have
noticed that the students I am with are extremely engaged and receptive to video based
instruction.
One of the most amazing aspects of the interview was when the mother gave me
advice on what she would love for professionals-in-training to know. She began
answering this question by saying that her and her husband have been very fortunate to
receive so much support and encouragement on their journey with their child. With that
said, she communicated that it is important to always remember when meeting with
parents of special needs children to realize that most will try their best to be strong while
they meet with you and receive results and feedback, but to realize that they will get in
their car and cry all the way home. This is that parents world, and to be mindful about

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keeping the language you use truthful but always full of hope. It is important to
emphasize the goals that you have set out for their children and the ways that you plan to
help them progress forward. She said that it is huge, to not give parents a false hope, but
to encourage them that progression can be made and that they are all going to get their
together.
I am so grateful for the words of advice that I was able to glean from this mother.
I feel certain that as I go on to work with special needs families and children, I will have
her words ringing in my mind. Hopeful, truthful, enduring is the kind of teacher I want to
be for the parents and children I get the honor to work with.

Citation
Steven C. Schachter andClifford B. Saper. Vagus Nerve Stimulation.
Article first published online: 3 AUG 2005

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