VIDBE-Q Volume 65 Issue 3
Nick Hadfield, M.S., TVI, COMS
Northeast Metro Intermediate District #916
nhadfiel@916schools.org
In the absolute mess that COVID-19 has brought our world, families of
children who are visually impaired (and those with multiple disabilities) have been
trying to make sense of all this in ways they have never thought were needed. At
the same time, our dedicated service providers are at the same crossroads of
determining how they will provide services to such a low incidence disability. As a
parent and a service provider I realized I needed to take a step back and have open
conversations with families about what their real needs are. I have been able to
interview several families to gather some great tips, success stories and highlight
some important components of collaboration to keep in mind as we approach the
start of school this fall.
The most significantly discussed topic is trust. It's a big word, and from the
families I interviewed, it was the most important aspect of working with service
providers during this time. Overall, families feel they need to have trust with
everyone who works with their child. They feel if they trust those around them,
Trust: A Key Component for Service Providers Collaborating With
Families during a Pandemic