Guiding Children with Special Needs- Part Two

1. 31 Guiding Children with Special Needs- Part Two By Dr. Yvonne Gentzler. Adapted by Dr. Vivian G. Baglien Learning Target: Student will describe and identify the methods of integrating special needs students in an educational setting.

2. Physical Disabilities • A child with a physical impairment may have a limited range of motion • His or her experiences may vary from peers • Types of physical disabilities • Cerebral palsy • Spina bifida • Muscular dystrophy • Amputation

3. Cerebral Palsy • Cerebral palsy is a neurological disorder from damage to the brain • Numerous causes • Produces lack of control over voluntary movements • Children lack fine-motor skills and have speech problems

4. Spina Bifida • Spina bifida is a condition in which the bones of the spine fail to grow together and nerves are left exposed • Congenital disease, results in paralysis • To provide most comfortable environment for the child, discuss positions with the parents and physical therapist

5. Muscular Dystrophy • Muscular dystrophy is a genetic condition characterized by weakness in the muscles • Progressive lack of muscle tissue and control • For many, fine-motor muscles are more easily retained than the gross-motor muscles • Therapeutic techniques and exercises for weakened muscles might help delay some of the disease’s progression

6. Amputation • Some children who are missing a hand, arm, or leg may be fitted with an artificial limb called a prosthesis • As a teacher, you will need to know how the artificial limb works and how to care for it

7. Teaching Suggestions • Some adjustments may need to be made in the classroom and facility • Modify chairs to accommodate the child • Provide space for wheelchair, crutches, cane, walker, or cart; ramps and table space for wheelchairs • Secure carpeting or rugs to prevent slipping • Provide two-handled mugs and deep-sided bowls rather than plates, and serve finger foods as often as possible at snack time

8. Health Disorders • A chronic health need is an illness that persists over a period of time • Children with health problems often have cycles of good and poor health • Disorders can include • allergies, arthritis, asthma, cystic fibrosis, diabetes, epilepsy, hemophilia, leukemia

9. Allergies • Reactions of the body to substances in the environment • Four categories of allergenic substances • Inhalants • Ingestants • Contactants • Injectables

10. Did You Know? Up to 50% of all people have mild or severe allergies.

11. Arthritis • Arthritis is a condition brought on by inflammation producing swelling of the joints and surrounding tissues • Most common form in children is rheumatoid arthritis; acute in morning, then subsides a bit • Children with arthritis often find it difficult to remain in one position for long periods of time

12. Asthma • Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways • Symptoms include • coughing or wheezing • rapid or labored breathing • shortness of breath • chest tightness continued

13. Asthma • When symptoms occur, it is called an asthma attack; may last minutes, hours, weeks • Caused by exposure to allergen, extreme weather, or overexertion • Treated with medication in a fast-acting inhaler or nebulizer • If no relief or child stops breathing, call 911 • Ask parents what triggers the asthma and try to prevent the conditions

14. Cystic Fibrosis • Cystic fibrosis is a hereditary disease that occurs almost from birth involving persistent and serious lung infections • Children with cystic fibrosis seldom enroll in early childhood programs • Risk of serious lung infection is great • If enrolled, they need frequent rest and plenty of liquids

15. Diabetes • Juvenile diabetes is a hereditary disease; enough insulin is not produced by the pancreas • May need insulin injections to control blood sugar level • Common symptom of diabetes can be • frequent urination • loss of weight • constant hunger • itching (especially around the groin) • slow healing cuts and bruises

16. Epilepsy • Epilepsy is a convulsive disorder caused by damage to the brain; affects 1% of population • Petit mal seizures: brief and hardly noticeable • Grand mal seizures: severe, consciousnesslost • When the child regains consciousness, he or she may be confused • Epilepsy is treated primarily with drugs to prevent or reduce frequency of the seizures continued

17. Epilepsy • If you need to control a seizure, do the following: • Let child remain on floor, clear area • Remain calm • Cradle child’s head in your lap • Call 911 if seizure lasts longer than two minutes • After waking, keep child laying down and warm • Call child’s doctor and family for advice

18. Hemophilia • Hemophilia is a genetic blood disease in which the blood cannot clot normally • Extreme internal bleeding and deep bruising may result from simply bumping against something; can be fatal • Decide with parents which equipment is safe for child

19. Leukemia • Leukemia is a form of cancer that affects the blood-forming organs and the blood • Symptoms can include bleeding, bruising, fever, infection, and weight loss; can be fatal • Treated with chemotherapy to extend life • The focus of teachers caring for children with leukemia should be on the quality of their life

20. Cognitive Disabilities • Cognitive or intellectual disability describes intellectual functioning significantly below the developmental milestones for a child’s age • Cognitive disabilities have varying degrees of severity • Down Syndrome is a chromosome disorder exhibiting cognitive and often physical disabilities • Distinct physical characteristics, but usually happy and loving personalities

21. Learning Disabilities • A learning disability means having a problem with one or more basic learning skills • However, a child with any of the following learning disabilities usually has average or above intellect: • trouble following directions or poor memory skills • problems storing, processing, and producing information • problems making or reproducing numbers/letters • poor hand-eye coordination skills

22. Social or Emotional Impairment • A behavioral disorder is a condition that affects an individual’s social and emotional functions • These challenges can include • attention deficit disorder • hyperactivity • conduct disorder • autism

23. Attention Deficit Disorder • Five to ten percent of school-age children have attention deficit disorder (ADD) • They are easily distracted and have trouble focusing on a task • Those who are also overactive, restless, and impulsive have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) • Can be hostile and fail to follow classroom limits • Affects five times as many boys as girls

24. Autism • Children with autismhave social, emotional, and communication impairments • Atypical language development • May display ritualistic and compulsive behaviors • Resistance to physical affection and interaction • May have violent temper tantrums • Need consistency, direct and simple speech; focus on language and appropriate behavior

25. Integrating Children with Special Needs • The number of children with special needs that can be accommodated in a center classroom varies by • the teachers’ training and experience • the ratio of adults to children • specific needs of the children • Work with the parents, inform the other children, and set simple classroom rules

26. Gifted Children • Gifted children’s unique educational needs are neglected in traditional education • Spend much of the time on things already known • Need programs and services different and more challenging than average

27. Giftedness • Giftedness can be defined in may ways • Traditionally, giftedness was assessed only on intelligence quotient scores (IQ) • Scholars now argue that there are many forms • Creative or productive thinking • General intellectual or leadership ability • Psychomotor ability • Specific academic or visual/performing arts aptitude

28. Identification • Identifying gifted children can be difficult • No single test, checklist, or observation will point out all types of giftedness • Teachers are more aware than parents of how a child’s behavior compares with peers • Tend to be more curious, independent, and self motivated

29. Teaching Suggestions • Acceleration is a process in which a gifted child is assigned to a class with older children • In enrichment, the range and depth of experiences is broadened to provide the child with a special curriculum • Individual or small group instruction • Provide open-ended learning activities for creative children; build leadership skills

30. Discuss • Discuss the special needs of gifted children and how they can be met.

31. Review • Placing children with special needs into a regular classroom is called _____. • What may be some signs of a possible learning disability? • What are some types of behavioral disorders? • What may be signs of giftedness?

32. Glossary • acceleration. Process in which a gifted child is assigned to a class with older children. • articulation problems. Omissions, distortions, or substitutions of vowels or consonants or both. • asthma. A chronic inflammatory disorder of the airways that causes labored breathing, gasping, coughing, and wheezing.

33. Glossary • autism. A behavioral disorder in which children are unable to interact with others socially because of ritualistic and compulsive behavior. Their language development is also atypical. • behavioral disorder. A condition that affects an individual’s social and emotional functions, such as attention deficit disorder, hyperactivity, conduct disorder, or autism.

34. Glossary • chronic health needs. Needs for special care caused by an illness that persists over a period of time. • enrichment. A process to broaden the range of experiences with special curriculum.

35. Glossary • giftedness. Having exceptional skills in one or more of six areas: creative or productive thinking, general intellectual ability, leadership ability, psychomotor ability, specific academic aptitude, and/or visual or performing arts.

36. Glossary • hearing impairment. Term that refers to a problem in one or more parts of the ear, which usually prevents a child from hearing adequately. • hemophilia. Genetic blood disease in which the blood cannot clot normally.

37. Glossary • inclusion. Term used to refer to an education setting in which children with and without special needs are integrated. • Individualized Education Plan (IEP). A written strategy for learning designed to ensure that each child with special needs is educated in the most appropriate manner for him or her.

38. Glossary • Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP). Strategy developed when a preschool age child is diagnosed as having a disability. It includes the family’s needs in regard to enhancing the child’s development, goals for the child, services to be provided to the child and/or family, and a plan for transitioning the child to other services and regular education.

39. Glossary • Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Federal law requiring all states to provide education for children who are developmentally delayed. • learning disability. Problems with one or more basic skills of learning. Poor memory skills, trouble following directions, or poor coordination may be signs.

40. Glossary • referral. Directing a parent to obtain a diagnosis from a professional when a problem exists with a child. • visual impairment. Any eye or nerve problem that prevents a person from seeing normally.

41. Teaching Standards