List challenges of parenting a child with special needs. (AS MANY AS YOU CAN THINK OF!)

Bell Work

Parenting Children With Special Needs

Unit 5 Parenting

While every child is unique, some might be called EXCEPTIONAL.

One child may have an unusually HIGH intelligence, or he/she may have an unusually LOW intelligence.

Both children are exceptional.

What are some characteristics of children with special needs?

Unable to perform certain physical, mental, and/or emotional tasks◦intellectual function below average◦unable to care for self or live independently

◦can care for self with assistance Physically Disabled

◦limited mobility, vision, hearing, speech

◦immobile, blind, deaf, mute

What are some characteristics of children with special needs?

Learning Disability◦ Dyslexia…children have a difficult time with spelling

and decoding letters

Emotional & Behavioral Disorders

◦ ADD…a learning disability in which a person is not able to control his or her activity or concentrate for a normal length of time

◦ ADHD…A hyperactive (being overly and uncontrollably active) child may struggle in school

◦ Depression and/or anxiety

What are some characteristics of children with special needs?

Pervasive Developmental Disabilities ◦ Autism (disorder characterized by lack of

communication, extreme concern with oneself, and detachment from reality)

◦

Gifted Children Children with unusual intelligence, special artistic

talents, and/or the ability to understand relationships and abstract ideas) ◦ above average intellectual abilities◦ extraordinary talent◦ often referred to as a prodigy (a gifted child)

What are some characteristics of children with special needs?

What are the requirements of children with special needs? They want to be

treated like everyone else, especially their sibling (a brother or sister)

Specific equipment if need is physical◦ Crutches, braces,

wheel chair◦ Hearing aids, sign

language◦ Braille

Specific education requirements for learning disabilities◦ IEP, designated

classroom◦ Inclusion (a term for

enrolling special needs children into all areas of the curriculum)

Challenges and outlets for gifted children◦ Advanced course◦ Musical and Artistic

experiences

1. ACT on diagnosed condition• Don’t deny the condition!• Inform school system and start treatment that

is necessary.

2. EDUCATE family • The more they know, the better they can help!

3. Find SUPPORT • Others who are going through a similar

situation will understand and be able to offer hope!

What do you do if you (or your child) is diagnosed with a special need?