Special Education Topic: Collaborating with Cultural

and Linguistically Diverse Families

The United States has become increasingly diverse over the past decades. Truth be told, the U.S. is
literally a country of immigrantsthe earliest immigrants and the true original residents of this
continent are Native Americans. European explorers and settlers entered this great land as newcomers.
Apparently, many current non-Native residents have forgotten the rowdy, violent, and often unethical
history of that lies at the foundation of the dominant Western European prosperity and white priviledge
in this country. In modern times the term ugly American was coined as a result of the obnoxious
behavior of white American tourists who traveled overseas only to embarrass themselves and their
country with a tendency to treat others on a basis of belief their culture and language is superior to all
others. This ethnocentric behavior did not make Americans many friends abroad or at home and
continues to cause a divide in how our recent immigrant populations, and our foreign nationals with an
English only, melting pot effort to kill diversity.

Fortunately, many now support the value of cultural and linguistic diversity. There are
multicultural studies virtually all colleges and universities. A review of educational literature will
quickly reveal a rich resource of articles and books addressing how to become culturally literate, how
to collaborate with cultural and linguistically diverse families. Knowing how to work effectively with
diverse families, paraprofessionals, other educational staff, students, and community members is a
vital skill for every educator in the 21st Century! Below are some key points from several published
articles on this topic. More information about diversity is available in most of the slides on each main
page of this website.

The place to begin on your journey to increased cultural sensitivity and awarenessor cultural
literacyas it is sometimes called, is to explore and become aware of your own cultural beliefs,
customs, and biases. Once we begin that journey (and there are books, programs, classes, and articles
available to help guide you in that process), there are some basic tips to consider when working with
any family, but especially with multicultural families.
 15 Tips for Collaborating Successfully
With Multicultural Families & Students

Note: These tips are adapted from various sources, articles, and personal experience teaching for
several decades in remote Alaska Native village schools. Article sources are listed on the Reference
page of this website.

1. Start by taking a journey to discover your own cultural beliefs, customs, and
biases. The majority of educators are from the dominant white culture. This is such a
pervasive, all-encompassing way of life that many of us are like fish swimming in
water. We are not fully aware of our own cultural assumptions and values.

2. The RTI Action Network, a program for the National Center for Learning
Disabilities (NCLD), suggest that we develop cultural competence which they
define as a term that describes what happens when special knowledge about
individuals and groups of people is incorporated into [educational] standards,
policies, and practices. The NCLD believes that this practice fosters appreciation of
families and their unique ethnic and linguistic backgrounds which leaders to
improved programs and better educational outcomes for children with special needs.

3. Find ways to bring diverse cultures into the school and the classrooms. This
includes more than just art or food. It can include the oral and/or written literature of
a culture, hiring teachers and/or paraprofessionals of diverse cultures whenever
possible, bringing members of diverse culture into the classroom to share stories,
experiences, and beliefs with children, and creating an atmosphere of respect for all
cultures and languages.

4. Offer a translator option for important meetings and babysitting if possible.

5. Be sensitive to the familys beliefs about how they want to contribute and
participate in their childs education process. In spite of IDEA parent participation
rules, many traditional cultures believe in leaving schooling to the experts.

6. Create meetings that are friendly and relaxed for families with traditional
cultures that emphasize taking time for warm and friendly conversation with other
adults before beginning the business at hand.

7. Keep your professional educational-speak to a minimum. Be aware of and dont

use acronyms and buzz words. This applies to nearly all families, no matter what the
culture.
8. Be aware that not all cultures are obsessed with time and being on time. Find
ways to work around various cultural practices.
9. Realize some cultures respect teachers so much the parents might decide they
dont want to do something, but they may never tell you no. Get around this by
sharpening your ability to read non-verbal communication and by asking the right
kind of questions and listening rather than talking at people.

10.Make it a point to celebrate diverse languages. Being bilingual is a huge

advantage!
Many children from diverse families speak two or more languages, including
English.
Never punish students for speaking a language other than English in school!
Teach students and parents about the many academic and personal advantages
of being bilingual.

11. Your families will appreciate all you do for their child. Practice student-centered
teaching so that you are pulling the students interests and lived experiences into
your lesson planning, material gathering, and instructional strategies.

12. Be aware of your own cultural values when trying to understanding a students
behavior and know that multicultural factors that might contribute to his or her
performance in school (NCLD).

13. Remember diversity includes ethnic and racial backgrounds, age, physical and
cognitive abilities, family status, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, religious
and spiritual values, and geographic location (Council for Exceptional Children).

14. Take the time to get to know your students family! Collaborating successfully
with diverse families relies on your ability to be aware, to know, understand and
value characteristics and beliefs different from your own.

15. Successful collaboration depends of your ability to be open andwithhold

judgment.