Family Experiences: Ways To Lead Change through Telling Your Story.

Parents of children with disabilities are frequently asked to tell all or part of their family's life story. These stories are potentially powerful ways to develop empathic relationships among parents and professionals. This document discusses ways parents can prepare and present their stories so that key themes are emphasized and the information shared is used as a prompt to make improvements within a program or system. Some of the key issues discussed include: (1) what's the purpose of telling your story?; (2) who is your audience?; (3) how should your story be organized?; (4) how can you find and use your voice?; (5) how to work with props or audio-visuals; (6) how to deal with personal emotions when telling your story; and (7) how to get feedback after your presentation. Resources on telling your story, public speaking, and stories that have been told are included. (SG)