Nocon, Gilchrist Lauren C.

2013122213

Special Children Research

Child care providers often work with children who have identified special
needs. Working with children who have special needs can be very rewarding if you
understand the child and his special need and make appropriate accommodations
to support his learning and development. The following articles will help child care
providers support children with special needs in a group child care setting.

As a child care provider, it's important to remember that children with special
needs are children first. They have the same needs as all children -- a place where
they feel physically comfortable, loved and secure; opportunities to play and learn;
people who care about them; and activities that allow them to be successful.
Children with special needs often are not so different from typically-developing
children. They may need more time to learn and practice certain skills. They may
need more praise and encouragement to gain the skills typical for their age group.
They may need specific adaptations to help them succeed at certain activities. But
it's important to remember that in many, many ways these children have lots in
common with other children. Many child care professionals and child
advocates emphasize this point by using "children first" language, referring to
"a child with special needs" rather than "a special needs child."

Special Education

Special education (also known as special needs education, aided

education, vocational education, and limb care authority education) is the practice
of educating students with special educational needs in a way that addresses
their individual differences and needs. Ideally, this process involves the individually
planned and systematically monitored arrangement of teaching procedures,
adapted equipment and materials, and accessible settings. These interventions are
designed to help learners with special needs achieve a higher level of personal selfsufficiency and success in school and their community, than may be available if the
student were only given access to a typical classroom education.

Effective Instruction for students with disabilities

Goal Directed: Each child must have an Individualized Education Program

(IEP) that distinguishes his/her particular needs. The child must get the
services that are designed for him/her. These services will allow him/her to
reach his/her annual goals which will be assessed at the end of each term
along with short-term goals that will be assessed every few months.

Research-Based Methods- There has been a lot of research done about

students with disabilities and the best way to teach them. Testing, IQs,
interviews, the discrepancy model, etc. should all be used to determine
where to place the child. Once that is determined, the next step is the best
way for the child to learn. There are plenty of different programs such as the
Wilson Reading Program and Direct Instruction

Guided by student performance- While the IEP goals may be assessed every
few months to a year, constant informal assessments must take place. These
assessments will guide instruction for the teacher. The teacher will be able to
determine if the material is too difficult or to easy.

One Term, Many Definitions:

"Special Needs" is an umbrella underneath which a staggering array of

diagnoses can be wedged. Children with special needs may have mild learning
disabilities or profound cognitive impairment; food allergies or terminal illness;
developmental delays that catch up quickly or remain entrenched; occasional panic
attacks or serious psychiatric problems. The designation is useful for getting needed
services, setting appropriate goals, and gaining understanding for a child and
stressed family.

Special schools

A special school is a school catering for students who have special

educational needs due to severe learning difficulties, physical disabilities or
behavioral problems. Special schools may be specifically designed, staffed and

resourced to provide appropriate special education for children with additional

needs. Students attending special schools generally do not attend any classes in
mainstream schools.
Special schools provide individualized education, addressing specific needs.
Student to teacher ratios are kept low, often 6:1 or lower depending upon the needs
of the children. Special schools will also have other facilities for children with special
needs, such as soft play areas, sensory rooms, or swimming pools, which are
necessary for treating students with certain conditions.
In recent times, places available in special schools are declining as more
children with special needs are educated in mainstream schools. However, there will
always be some children, whose learning needs cannot be appropriately met in a
regular classroom setting and will require specialised education and resources to
provide the level of support they require. An example of a disability that may
require a student to attend a special school is intellectual disability. However, this
practice is often frowned upon by school districts in the USA in the light of Least
Restrictive Environment as mandated in the Individuals with Disabilities Education
Act.

Minuses and Pluses:

Special needs are commonly defined by what a child can't do - by milestones

unmet, foods banned, activities avoided, experiences denied. These minuses hit
families hard, and may make "special needs" seem like a tragic designation. Some
parents will always mourn their child's lost potential, and many conditions become
more troubling with time. Other families may find that their child's challenges make
triumphs sweeter, and that weaknesses are often accompanied by amazing
strengths.

Behavior Issues:

Children with behavior issues don't respond to traditional discipline. With

diagnoses like ADHD, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder, Dysfunction of Sensory
Integration, and Tourette Syndrome, they require specialized strategies that are
tailored to their specific abilities and disabilities.
If those strategies are not developed and used, kids with behavior issues
throw their families into chaos and are seriously at risk for school problems. Their
parents need to be flexible and creative.

Medical Issues:

Medical issues for children include serious conditions like cancer and heart
defects, muscular dystrophy and cystic fibrosis; chronic conditions like asthma and
diabetes; congenital conditions like cerebral palsy and dwarfism; and health threats
like food allergies and obesity.
Children with medical issues may require numerous tests, long hospital stays,
expensive equipment, and accommodations for disabilities. Their families have to
deal with frequent crises, uncertainty, and worry.

Mental Health Issues:

A child's problems with anxiety or depression can sneak up on parents;

problems with attachment may smack them right in the face. Living with a child
with mental health issues can put family members on a roller coaster of mood
swings and crises and defiance. Parents have to find the right professionals to help,
and make hard decisions about therapy, medications, and hospitalization. The
consequences of missed clues and wrong guesses can be significant.