Research that Benefits Children and Families

The topic I would research is the lack of funding for early childhood programs. The lack of funding for early childhood programs have  become a major concern for several states.  This issue personally hits home for me because I have a 3 year old that I tried to get in head start.  We were denied because of income guidelines, but they said my child would be placed on a waiting list.  When I received that letter I was surprised because I want my daughter to attend preschool.  I only wants what's best for her.  I would love to have preschool that I don't have to pay for.  The issue is a major concern for a lot of families.  If I could research how to get a grant for more program funding, that would make a big difference for children and their families.  The positive contributions will be having more programs will help more families succeed in the future.

My Research Journey

The topic I would like to know more about is autism, and how it’s diagnosed in children ages 3-5.  I know that autism is a very broad topic.  I would like to learn ways to teach students with autism.  My professional reason for choosing this topic is I am thinking about teaching Special Education, and I want to learn about different disabilities that affect the learning process.  My personal reason for choosing this topic is I have a close friend whose daughter was diagnosed with autism.  Autism is a controversial topic in education that people need more clarity on.  Autism currently affects a lot of children, and I am just wondering why we are seeing a rapid increase all of a sudden.    My friend stated that her life has changed since this diagnosis, but becoming more educated about autism has helped her through.  She said it’s hard knowing that your child is different from other children. As educators, our focus should be on how to  make instruction time work with children with autism. This will help us work with the child and adjust to each unique way that they learn and deal with everyday life situations.