Student Hosting

9 Comments

We hosted a pair of students again last night.  We do it once, sometimes twice, a semester.  It is for a program called Families as Faculty.  Students are enrolled in a class that is along the lines of teaching special needs kids.  The college studentstudents have to go into a special needs childs home and learn from the family.  Hence the title, Families as Faculty.  We love doing it. 

Our biggest goal is to show the students that a diagnosis doesn’t define a child.  We like them to see both Rachel and Matthew so that they can see that even though they have the exact same diagnosis, full mutation fragile x syndrome with autistic tendencies, they are on opposites ends of the MR scale.  I hate nothing more than to hear one of the kids’ new teachers tell me, “Yeah I have worked with autism before.”  That is all great and fine but have you worked with MY kid before. 

We visited for a couple of hours.  We let them ask questions and get a feel for what our lives are like.  I explained how fragile x genetically worked.  I gave them brochures and pamphlets on it to put in their classroom stuff.  The kids really enjoy it as well.  Last night Matthew actually sorta participated.  He would nod his head in agreement when he felt something was important that I was saying. :lol:

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9 thoughts on “Student Hosting”

  1. That sounds like a fantastic program, I wonder if there are similar programs locally. Who sponsors the program?

    It is funded by a ton of different agencies. I posted the link for the info on Sarah’s post. I bet if they don’t have one in your area it could be easy to get one started!

  3. Ditto.. and Ditto :-)

    I think its cool to that you have two kids with the same Diagnosis and different presentations, the learning opportunity with that I am sure is a lesson that they will be able to keep with them and remember.

    Its great that you did this.

  4. I recently had the opportunity to be interviewed by a college student who is working as a classroom aide in Foster’s class as part of her curriculum. We ended up talking for close to 3 hours. It was amazing for both of us … and now she’s thinking she might alter her major to special ed. Because she loves Foster and wants to know more more more about kids with special needs. :)

    Wow!! That is way cool :)

  6. I am thoroughly impressed!!!! We have a local university and college here and lots of programs that connect Autism Ontario with the students….We’re part of a buddy program that gives a student two hours a week with a child on the spectrum….but I have to admit I think this program is even better! I’d like to suggest it if its okay with you?! and wow, how many times have I heard “Oh, yes, I’ve worked with autism before!!”

  8. First of all, congrats on the new addition to your family! Our next addition is a grandchild in August (yes, I’m only 40 and WAY to young to be a grandma…LOL)

    Secondly, I think adopting them out at 17 may possibly be of great benefit…that’s when you’re just getting to the expensive things…driver’s training (hello, can you say $350!), driver’s licenses, cars, prom attire, college *yikes*, wedding attire, etc. Let me know how that works out for you ;) The list goes on and on and on….haha

    As for your blog today….I couldn’t agree with you more. Don’t tell me you worked with kids “like” mine….mine is probably similar, but not the same.

  9. Sounds like a great program. I wouldn’t be surprised if we had a program like that at one of the colleges and didn’t even know it. Nothing like on-hands experience to make it real….well as real as you can get without living our lives anyway. :)

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