Guided Interview questions
(These questions can be adapted based on the individual and/or family you selected)
Yasibell Gonzales
Preferred to be called Yasi
23 years old
Disability: Speech disorder; can’t read or write.
1. How long have you lived in this town/city/community/region?
20 years
2. How old is your child? What grade are they in?
23 years old. Currently not in school. She did graduate from high school in 2014
3. What kind of school do they attend?
Used to attend New Bern high school
4. How did you learn that your child had a disability? When did this happen?
she developed the disability when she was a baby.
5. How did your other children (or family members’) react to the news of having a child with a disability and what has been the impact on their lives?
Her mother couldn’t take care of her, therefore my grandma took custody of her. She was babied a lot by the adults because of her disability. But the cousins treated
her normally, seeing that they were aware she was different, but she could still do things normally like them.
6. Are their members of your community/city/ that have a similar disability to your child/family member?
We have some cousins who suffered from seizures, and autism. Speech problems also have occurred. Some have either been delayed in speech, or still have complications
where they may stutter or mumble here and there. There are three kids who have these disabilities around where Yasi stays and they’re all related amongst each other.
7. What have been the problems/challenges you and your family have faced?
It’s just small things here and there. She knows and understands people when they speak either English or Spanish, it’s just not everyone can understand what she may
be saying to reply back. The fact that she can’t really read or write. If you go to a restaurant she can’t read the menu, someone else has to order for her. If she
were to take money out an ATM, she can’t comprehend what’s on the ATM screen, so she can go wanting to get 20 dollars out but more than likely taking out 60 or more.
8. What kinds of support have been most helpful to you? (family, support groups, teachers, etc)
Family. Teachers. Some friends.
9. How important is education in your family?
Very Important. We promote education. My grandma and aunts are still trying to get Yasi to take at least a couple college classes that we’ll know can be beneficial to
her, and that she’ll understand.
10. What have been your experiences with school personnel? What have they done that was most helpful? Most hurtful/harmful?
Positives: Teachers used to guide her in the right direction.
Negatives: Students used to bully her.
11. If I were to be your child’s teacher next year, what advice would you want to give me so your child has the best possible education?
Be patient. Be understanding. Don’t show her favoritism. Involve her in group projects with other kids. Be assertive, but not aggressive. Take steps with her when it
comes to speaking and writing, but not gigantic ones, because she gets frustrated when she’s not understood or things get too hard.
12. What would you want me to do/not do in terms of interactions with you if I were your child’s teacher?
Interaction at the school to come up with solutions to perform steps and measures to make sure if a problem occurs we’ll have a stabilized plan. Also, include my
grandma or her mother in the steps being taken to further Yasi’s education at all times, as well as her progressions.
13. Describe a typical day in your household.
Yasi wakes up, eats breakfast made by my grandma. Watches tv. May go out for a walk. May go visit loanne, her cousin, down the street, or Karen, loanne’s cousin, who
stays right down from her house. She’ll eat lunch. She’ll be on facebook. She’ll play games on her tablet, mostly bingo. Watch some more tv, more so soap operas, with
grandma. Eat dinner. Take a nap. Shower. Get back on her tablet. Then call it day.
Every weekend she does half of those things, then goes to bingo from 3pm-11pm with grandma, because it’s something they both thoroughly enjoy.
14. If you are from a culture that speaks English as a second language, do you speak your native language? If not, why? If so, will you teach your native language to
any children you have?
Yes, we speak our native language. Yasi tends to speak both English and Spanish when talking, but it’s mainly Spanish that she speaks. If Yasi were to have kids they
will be bilingual.
15. What other information would you like me to know about working with special needs children?
Calm, compassionate, and willing to understand other people’s process. Accept that other people are different, and it’s more of a moral stand point. Know other people
are born different, and be willing to accept them, and adapt to them. Find out what you can do to help.
Observations
When Yasi gets around new people she becomes more quiet and shy, and doesn’t like to speak much unless it’s common easy words like her name or “no” and “yes” or “I
don’t know”. Much so simple things.
When she gets excited she starts to shake her hands by her face, as she smiles.
When she tends to get bored she bites her fingernails.
And she tends to be very observant, when other people are talking and it’s a conversation she’s not comfortable butting into.
