Chapter 1
A child is considered exceptional in two ways. A child can be either gifted or have developmental disabilities that make them exceptional. An exceptional child differs from the average child in a way that affects their learning. Some ways that a child may differ could be by mental characteristics, sensory abilities, communication abilities, behavioral and emotional development and/or physical characteristics. If a child’s needs are so strong that they have modifications in the classroom they are considered exceptional. “If their exceptionalities leave them unable to read or to master learning in the traditional way, or place them so far ahead that they are bored by what is being taught or are unable to socially fit them into the classroom, then special education methods become necessary.” (Page 6) The exceptionalities of children are divided into five categories. They are distributed into intellectual differences, relating to being intellectually advanced or being slow to learn, communication differences, relating to disabilities through speech and language, sensory differences, relating to any auditory or visual impairments, behavioral differences, relating to emotionally disturbed children and socially maladjusted, multiple and severe handicapping conditions, related to combinations of impairments, and physical differences, relating to difficulty with movement.
Families that have children with disabilities have special burdens that they must learn to cope with. Even at birth or at the diagnosis of the disability a family may struggle. All will react in either a positive or negative way. Many parents must learn to cope with the idea and it sometimes takes a few steps to get there. Parents go through similar steps as grievance, starting with shock or denial, guilt, anger and some will hit depression. Parents must also face the issue of childcare and may have difficulty finding the right care for their child within their budget. Families must understand a child’s needs and come to terms that in some cases the child may never grow up through the normal development into adulthood.
A family that has a child with special needs requires more attention on the child and a close relationship between the family and community to encourage development. It would take a lot of patience and strength to care for and adjust to a child with disabilities.
Another burden a family with a child with special needs must adjust to is if there are siblings. The parents must be careful not to neglect the nondisabled child when caring for the child with disabilities, especially because parents would not want the nondisabled child to resent the other child or their parents. These families must work harder at their relationships between parents and children to ensure that all of the siblings feel equal to each other disability or not. Many parents fear the effects that their family has on each of the siblings but according to Educating Exceptional Children, “Although each situation is different from one family to another, there does not seem to be any tendency for the siblings of children with disabilities to be more disturbed or stressful than the siblings of children without disabilities.” (Page 23) Families that have a child with disabilities may have burdens but it may just be that they need a little more attention and the parents must be more conscious of their child’s needs.
A child is considered exceptional in two ways. A child can be either gifted or have developmental disabilities that make them exceptional. An exceptional child differs from the average child in a way that affects their learning. Some ways that a child may differ could be by mental characteristics, sensory abilities, communication abilities, behavioral and emotional development and/or physical characteristics. If a child’s needs are so strong that they have modifications in the classroom they are considered exceptional. “If their exceptionalities leave them unable to read or to master learning in the traditional way, or place them so far ahead that they are bored by what is being taught or are unable to socially fit them into the classroom, then special education methods become necessary.” (Page 6) The exceptionalities of children are divided into five categories. They are distributed into intellectual differences, relating to being intellectually advanced or being slow to learn, communication differences, relating to disabilities through speech and language, sensory differences, relating to any auditory or visual impairments, behavioral differences, relating to emotionally disturbed children and socially maladjusted, multiple and severe handicapping conditions, related to combinations of impairments, and physical differences, relating to difficulty with movement.
Families that have children with disabilities have special burdens that they must learn to cope with. Even at birth or at the diagnosis of the disability a family may struggle. All will react in either a positive or negative way. Many parents must learn to cope with the idea and it sometimes takes a few steps to get there. Parents go through similar steps as grievance, starting with shock or denial, guilt, anger and some will hit depression. Parents must also face the issue of childcare and may have difficulty finding the right care for their child within their budget. Families must understand a child’s needs and come to terms that in some cases the child may never grow up through the normal development into adulthood.
A family that has a child with special needs requires more attention on the child and a close relationship between the family and community to encourage development. It would take a lot of patience and strength to care for and adjust to a child with disabilities.
Another burden a family with a child with special needs must adjust to is if there are siblings. The parents must be careful not to neglect the nondisabled child when caring for the child with disabilities, especially because parents would not want the nondisabled child to resent the other child or their parents. These families must work harder at their relationships between parents and children to ensure that all of the siblings feel equal to each other disability or not. Many parents fear the effects that their family has on each of the siblings but according to Educating Exceptional Children, “Although each situation is different from one family to another, there does not seem to be any tendency for the siblings of children with disabilities to be more disturbed or stressful than the siblings of children without disabilities.” (Page 23) Families that have a child with disabilities may have burdens but it may just be that they need a little more attention and the parents must be more conscious of their child’s needs.
This makes me wonder about the kids at your field placement. I wonder what they are like at home.
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