Successful collaboration between teachers and parents can greatly enhance children's educational growth and development. This clearly written book provides teachers with the knowledge and skills needed to conduct effective conferences with parents of children with disabilities. Readers gain a solid understanding of the challenges that families face as a consequence of childhood disability; how family dynamics and roles are affected; and issues that are likely to arise in meetings with school professionals. Reviewing the basic elements of parent-teacher conferencing, Seligman highlights ways to establish rapport with families, develop strong listening and responding skills, and engage parents who may feel anxious, frustrated, or angry. Also addressed are the specific requirements of the legally mandated Individualized Educational Program conference. Enhancing the book's utility are numerous concrete examples and sample parent-teacher dialogues, as well as role-play scenarios and exercises to build conferencing skills. The Appendix describes a range of disability-related referral sources and publications suitable for recommendation to parents.
After 35 years of teaching and conducting research at the University of Pittsburgh, I retired in 2005. I continue with my private psychology practice on a part-time basis. I am also writing a book for parents, siblings, and grandparents to hopefully help them cope with the vicissitudes of raising a child with a disability. The publisher is Jessica Kingley Publishers (JKP), based in London and Philadelphia. Although I have writtten a number of books this is the first one I've authored for a family audience. I am hoping that it will be published in 2011.
I have two daughters, one 41 and the other 39. My 39 year old (Lori) is mentally retarded and struggles with significant weight issues. Lori is an independent young lady---so much so that we call her our "go-go girl". She is a collector of Wizard of Oz items and goes to the bi-yearly Munchkin convention. My other daughter is married and is an art teacher in Pittsburgh. My daughters are very close and supportive of each other.
While writing and conducting psychotherapy after retiring, I also take courses at Carniegie Mellon University and the University of Pittsburgh---these are just for fun courses for folks over 55.
In addition to books in the area of children with disabilities and their families, I have authored books on group psychotherapy and clinical supervision. But my main interest continues to be with families and I am giving thought to writing a book on siblings of children with special needs, and one for grandparents and their grandchildren with disabilities. These are members of the family that do not receive the attention they should be receiving by authors and researchers. There are special issues that these family members face which I touch on in the book I am writing for JKP. There has been some research on sibs but virtually nothing on grandparents. Hopefully, I can make a future contribution in these areas.
I like to get email from professionals and family members who have been touched by childhood disability so feel free to write and let me know about your interests as they pertain to this area. My email address is: mseligma@pitt.edu.
