Teaching a Child with Special Needs

Once there was a king, who had a beautiful, large pure diamond. There was no other diamond like it in the world.

One day, it became deeply scratched. The king called his best diamond cutters, “I’ll promise you a great reward if you can remove the imperfection from my jewel.”

But they could not. The king was very upset.

Many months later, a man came to the king. He promised to make the diamond even more beautiful than it ever had been. Impressed by the man’s confidence, the king consented.

He watched as the man engraved an exquisite rosebud around the blemish and used the scratch to make its stem. --A parable of the Preacher of Dubno from Jewish folklore

This story can easily be equated to birth defects and children with special needs. Even though a child with a birth defect or special need may not appear to be perfect, he/she still has great abilities and opportunities to apply himself/herself in life. Rather than emphasizing the problem, we must focus on the abilities of the person. Conclusion

What is a disability? PhysicalMentalEmotional Or any combination of the above that presents challenges for children and/or their parents/guardians

Physical Disabilities

Derek’s Poem I am a winner of the simple game of life, Even though not physically. I wonder if I will ever have the luck to win the day with honor. I hear faint sounds of God in heaven and wonder what sign that is. I see and omen of a cross on the window on Good Friday. I want to be depended on to give back to the unfortunate of the world. I am a winner of the simple game of life. I pretend that God is a person. He is but only watching down on us from the perspective of heaven. I feel that I have a blessing to give back to the world any way I can. I can touch God’s hand representing the guidance he gives me. I worry that the weight of my sins will keep me from doing good. I cry at the thought that my future is a gray path of suffering and torment, But it isn’t because I’m better than that and will do the best I can, It may not be your best but it will be my best. I am a winner of the simple game of life. I understand that I am disabled, But not everything in this world is basketball. I say that I will be a strong person, But I will be strong to my extent. I dream that the world will someday be near perfect, And that every life brought into this world will be respected. I try my hardest at everything, And if I’m not then give me a little help. I hope that someday my disease will die. I am a winner of the simple game of life. By: Derek Semler

Treatment for physical disabilities: Special exercises Special equipment equipment

What should you do in terms of teaching? Help the children to be independent –Personal grooming and care Bathing, etc. –Eating on their own and other typical everyday activities Getting dressed, etc.

Mental Disabilities

Autism –Wide range of behavior –Tend to be focused on one thing to the exclusion of others –Treatment = individual attention, small groups, patience –Visit for more information.

Learning Disabilities A limitation in the way a person’s brain sorts and uses information A specific limitation in acquiring certain types of information

Dyslexia A disability with reading, often sees letters or words in an order other than they actually appear 1st step diagnosis, ideally before school Work with a specialist, treat or learn to compensate

ADHD Less able to focus on an activity for a long period of time, they are easily distracted by other people and activities –A lifelong condition that cannot be cured, but can be treated –For effective treatment both medication and structure (behavior training)

Treatment & Teaching Begin EARLY Use examples/demonstrations –Keep things simple & direct

Who can have a disability?

Frida Kahlo

Other Famous People with Attention Deficit and Learning Disorders Galileo Thomas Edison Wright Brothers Leonardo de Vinci Woodrow Wilson Hans Christian Anderson F. Scott Fitzgerald Walt Disney Louis Pasteur Winston Churchill Henry Ford Robert Kennedy Alexander Graham Bell

Statistics Experts estimate that 6 to 10 percent of the school- aged population in the United States is learning disabled. Nearly 40 percent of the children enrolled in the nation's special education classes suffer from a learning disability. The Foundation for Children With Learning Disabilities estimates that there are 6 million adults with learning disabilities as well.

Emotional Disabilities Nervous Habits Loss of Appetite Sleeplessness Excessive Fear Aggressive or Violent Behavior

Treatment Therapist Behavior Specialist

Remember! Everyone is different and we all deserve the best!!!

Extra Credit Watch I Am Sam and write a one page summary on the movie including your opinion of Sam and his disability.