Understanding Children With Special Needs

Originally published in 1989. This book is designed as an introduction to the field of special education for all those students and professionals - teachers, social workers, psychologists, medical officers, nurses, speech therapists and others - who encounter children with special needs. The authors first discuss current legislation in its historical context and draw attention to the major issues and controversies. They go on to analyse a variety of learning difficulties. Physical and sensory disabilities, emotional and behavioural problems, may all give rise to special educational needs. The book then considers how children's special needs may be met in terms of curriculum, resources and provisions. It concludes with some prognostications and a critical review of current practice.

This handbook is an attempt to provide answers to those innumerable questions that plaque the minds of teachers and parents alike, about children who need special attention. It is a modest attempt to Psycho-educate parents and teachers in general and create awareness of differently abled children and their learning process. Before the world can change its perception of 'special needs' and 'disabilities', one needs to understand what the terms mean and how children with special needs are different. Gone are the days when lack of information caused everyone to tiptoe around these conditions. In theory, the term 'special needs' is used to clinically diagnose mental, physical or psychological disabilities that give rise to functional difficulties. However, in lay terms, 'special needs' becomes an umbrella term for a staggering array of conditions. Children who are diagnosed with having special needs may be suffering from a mild learning problems to a major, degenerative illness. Parenting a child is a complicated task, more so when the child has special needs. The objective of this handbook is to enable parents to support, love and care for their child, regardless of the disabilities involved. Some parents may be hesitant to share their child’s diagnosis with the teacher. This may seem odd, but parents struggling to figure out how they can help their child and sometimes themselves, may be afraid of a teacher’s judgment or the treatment their child will receive once a special need has been identified. Parents are also often afraid of being blamed, and usually have an unhealthy dose of guilt themselves, even after being reassured that the disability is not their fault. The relief comes from knowing what is wrong with their child and having an appropriate plan of action. In this book, I have focused on children with a diagnosed special needs and have shared few strategies of handling these concerns, which includes a set of resources for parents as well as teachers. There is no “one size fits all” approach to special education. It’s tailored to meet each student’s needs. Special education refers to a range of services that can be provided in different ways and in different settings. It can be challenging to select instructional materials and methods, which will enrich student learning. The key is first understanding the needs of every student. In particular, all teachers need to understand how to provide help for students with special needs. Special education is a rewarding field with many benefits and challenges. As a teacher in this field, you'll face a variety of obstacles that require a particular kind of focus and patience, but within those experiences, you'll also receive a feeling of accomplishment.

Conversations with Families of Children with Disabilities creates a space for diverse families of children with disabilities to share their stories with pre-service and in-service teachers. Specifically designed for professionals preparing to work with families of children with disabilities, this text invites the reader to listen in as families reflect on their personal journeys in conversation with the authors. This powerful book helps educators develop a deeper understanding of families and enhance their capacity for authentic partnerships.

Introduction to the core concepts of teaching and supporting children with disabilities alongside their peers will help teachers ensure that all children meet their potential.

Originally published in 1989. This book is designed as an introduction to the field of special education for all those students and professionals – teachers, social workers, psychologists, medical officers, nurses, speech therapists and others – who encounter children with special needs. The authors first discuss current legislation in its historical context and draw attention to the major issues and controversies. They go on to analyse a variety of learning difficulties. Physical and sensory disabilities, emotional and behavioural problems, may all give rise to special educational needs. The book then considers how children’s special needs may be met in terms of curriculum, resources and provisions. It concludes with some prognostications and a critical review of current practice.

Experts have yet to reach consensus about what a learning disability is, how to determine if a child has one, and what to do about it. Leading researcher and clinician Deborah Waber offers an alternative to the prevailing view of learning disability as a problem contained within the child. Instead, she shows how learning difficulties are best understood as a function of the developmental interaction between the child and the world. Integrating findings from education, developmental psychology, and cognitive neuroscience, she offers a novel approach with direct practical implications. Detailed real-world case studies illustrate how this approach can promote positive outcomes for children who struggle in school.

Parenting a child with special needs require high levels of knowledge, patience, awareness, access to resources, information and services. Proper information, diagnoses, therapies and interventions ensure parents will be focusing on the right methods and activities for their child. “Raising Your Child with Special Needs: Guidance and Practices” provides quick facts on the many types of special needs in a clear and simplistic manner. This book covers everything from the descriptions of the types of special needs, illustrations of each type of special needs with infographics, and practical advice to parents and educators on how to help a child with special needs. This book also introduces Ecotherapy, a type of therapy using nature as a form of healing. The Ecotherapy activities discussed in this book can be done continuously, cost-effectively, and in any nature setting. This book is written in an easy to understand and informative form. An absolute must-have reference for any parent with a child with special needs and those seeking a user-friendly book on special education to use as a resource.

This user-friendly book presents research-based best practices for serving families of children with special needs from birth to age 6. Expert contributors demonstrate how early intervention and early childhood special education can effectively address a wide range of family concerns, which in turn optimizes children's development and learning. Tightly edited, the volume offers indispensable tools for assessing families; identifying and capitalizing on their strengths; providing information, support, and coaching; collaborating with parents and teachers to address children's functional needs in the context of everyday routines; and coordinating care. Over a dozen reproducible checklists and forms help professionals immediately implement the techniques and strategies described.