Interview With Sharon

• Q: Why did you decide to become an E.A.?
• A: I wanted to challenge my own skills on teaching methods and techniques that would be honed to each student's needs.
• Q: Do you find it rewarding working with special needs students? Why?
• A: I find it very rewarding inside when I have accomplished the task of modifying the lesson or program in order for a student to comprehend what task is required of them.
• Q: What are the highlights of your job? What are the drawbacks?
• A: The highlights of my job are seeing the students grow, not only academically, but in self-esteem and confidence levels. The drawbacks are the financial side (as teachers make far more money) and the amount of assessment time it may require to identify a student’s needs and methods of learning styles.
• Q: What training and qualifications did you have in order to obtain a position as an E.A.?
• A: I am a qualified E.A. student, as well as a child and youth worker. I am also working on finishing my Psyc Degree at University.
• Q: Has the training and qualifications necessary to become an E.A. changed since when you began?
• A: I'm not sure but it doesn't relate to me, as I have extensive training and experience working with developmentally and physically challenged individuals.
• Q: Have you had to take any recertifications or extra training along the way because of changes in the system over time?
• A: I have just finished taking a Developmental Delay and Autistic Spectrum training course to be informed of the medical advances in the care of individuals with these challenges.
• Q: What changes have you seen take place in the way special needs children are educated?
• A: I feel that there has been more inclusion within the classroom setting. I think that this is both beneficial for all the students and classrooms involved as they are aware and informed of these challenges.
• Q: What changes do you feel need to be made in order to improve the education that special needs children receive (if any)?
• A: There have been incidences where I felt that a full-time E.A. would be an asset in the situation or for a particular need of the student. One-on-one is always beneficial when the student's needs require focus and a modified program, but financially and socially it may not always be the right decision, or possiblity.
• Q: Do you feel that the specific role that E.A.s play in the education of special needs students has improved with time? Why or why not?
• A: I feel that E.A.s in general aren't thought of as just 'helpers' in the classroom. Our job is not just to photocopy all day or mark for the teacher. We are an intrical part of the learning process for people with special needs as we work with them to strengthen their abilities and possibilities for the curriculum requirements.
• Q: What changes do you feel need to be made in order to improve the role of E.A.s (if any)?
• A: I am happy with the roles of the E.A.s in our school district. I will be concerned if they are expected to tube-feed, or do any other medical procedures that they are not trained for.
• Q: Do you feel that E.A.s end up performing tasks that do not specifically involve the education of the special needs students you were assigned to aid? If so do you find this justified?
• A: If I am in a position of non-E.A. roles I will metion this to the instructor and discretally self acclaim my skills, strengths and job expectation as to benefit the academic expectations of the student and program.
• Q: Do you feel that the special needs students you have worked with benefited from being in a regular classroom?
• A: At times I feel that most students do benefit from being in a regular classroom. The benefit I see is from the social aspect, not only for the student, but their peers as well. I can see the enjoyment of participating in gym class, art, music and other subjects that the student can do with minimal assistance.

Home
Biography of Sharon Hamilton
Interview With Sharon (Continued)
Bibliography of Secondary Sources Used
Reflection
Me