We have a new Featured Professional to introduce you to! Sasha is a professional who works with kids with special needs and graciously answered a few questions.

 

Fun and Function: Who are you and what is your profession?

Sasha Goldfarb: I'm Sasha Goldfarb and I'm a preschool teacher.

 

FF: What is Nature of special needs you work with the most?

SG: I work with children with language delays, communication disorders, autism, ADHD.

 

FF: What would you say is your biggest challenge in working with children with special needs?

SG: Since I teach an integrated preschool class (10 regular education and 8 students with special needs) my greatest challenge is ensuring my students with special needs are engaged and learning with all of the support and modifications they might need. I need to be sure that all my students are being challenged to reach their highest potential while balancing their social-emotional needs. Sometimes I face a variety of unique challenges as most of my students live in poverty and cannot access the same resources taken for granted in other communities.

 

FF: What is your greatest joy in your job?

SG: The greatest joy in my job is seeing a student we worried might not "make it" become happy, more independent individuals who can communicate their own feelings and ideas.

 

FF: What has been the greatest help to you in your profession?

SG: The greatest help to me in my profession has been the opportunity to observe other professionals including teachers, therapists, and other specialists. I can't count the number of ideas, tips, and little "tricks" I've picked up just by watching.

 

FF: Give us one tool you would hate to live without?

SG: My greatest tool is collaboration. To find those you can trust to listen to all of your ideas, give you some of their own, and help create a great combination of the two is simply priceless.

 

FF: If you could give one piece of advice to a parent who's child has just been diagnosed, what would it be?

SG: Parents of children with special needs have a special place in my heart as I have a brother with autism who was diagnosed over 17 years ago. Watching what my own parents went through alone made me swear to not let another family go through what we did. Parents, do not isolate yourselves! There are people to help you through almost anything, just have the courage to ask! You are never alone.

 

Sasha, thank you so much for taking the time to talk to us and all the readers here at Fun and Function.

If you would like to be a featured parent or professional, just let us know!