Dee Seaney
Dee Seaney |
Family Support Worker Special Educational Needs & Autistic Spectrum Disorder I have worked in the Special Educational Needs (SEN) area since1992. I began as a volunteer at my daughter`s school and progressed from there to working as an LSA. I took some training as an LSA and then went on to college, taking certificates in learning support. I also attended courses for speech and language development and behaviour management. In the school settings I worked with a variety of children with a variety of needs. The training and experience I received in these settings has been invaluable. For the past five years, as well as working in the class room, my time has been spent working with families in their homes, and supporting them in the evenings and at weekends. This has involved putting into place learning strategies such as TEACCH schedules, PECS and Social Stories or more practical things like structuring a bedtime routine, morning timetable or accompanying the family to do a weekly shop. We all know as many of us are parents ourselves how difficult this can be. Of course for a family with a special needs child or children, the behaviours and difficulties they might encounter are upsetting and often quite extreme. When these strategies are in place and used consistently everyone can then move forward, and get on with other daily matters. I very much enjoy working with families supporting them through the good and difficult periods. On the recent TEACCH course when speaking to parents I was reminded about what its like to bring up a child with special needs and all that involves for parents siblings and the wider family. I too have a daughter on the Autistic Spectrum, therefore I share an affinity and understand their problems. I see the role of Family Support Worker as a valuable resource within the confederation team, and another means of enabling families to help themselves in allowing their children access learning within a comfortable environment to suit and integrate their individuality.
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