Who are Special needs Childeren?
"Children with special needs" (CWSN) refers to children with one or more disabilities that make learning or other activities difficult. Special needs being an umbrella term for several diagnoses, signifies the challenges one might face and their intensity which could be relatively mild or profound.
These children may have developmental delays , medical, psychiatric, or even congenital conditions. They include those with mental retardation and impairment in speech and language, such as difficulty expressing themselves or understanding others. Learning Disabilities makes it difficult for the brain to process information.
As a result, special needs children require understanding and accommodations to reach their full potential and additional assistance in meeting academic, social, and emotional needs.
What is Special Education
Having mentioned some of the scenarios that identify an individual and their educational compromises, allows us to understand “why” and “how” they become eligible for additional academic assistance and support. They are children whose learning abilities are hampered by physical, cognitive, behavioural, or emotional conditions.
The Persons with Disabilities Act of 1995 is India's landmark special education law. It seeks to provide disabled people with equal opportunitiesThis addition to the education system ensures that all eligible students receive appropriate public education alongside their peers who are not disabled.
Parent's Role
It can be challenging to parent a child with additional learning, attention, social-emotional, or behavioural needs. However, parents play an essential role in their children's education, especially when the child has to grow up with special needs. Hence a few ways through which parents of children with special needs can aid their child's education.
- Communicating with their teachers
Parents knowing what their child is doing in school is the first step in supporting their learning at home. They should take the initiative to discuss with their teacher about Individual Education Plan (IEP) and what both parties can do to help their special needs children reach their goals. Listening to your child's educators so you can practise at home and having the educators hear your thoughts so they can follow through at school will make things less confusing for your child. It will also strengthen efforts on both sides. Meeting with their teachers and school therapists is essential to learn about their child's progress.
- Being their Advocates
Parents must advocate for their children's needs effectively. They need to be aware of their child's rights, facilities, and services, particularly those related to educational assistance. They should be able to ask questions about their child's assistance and communicate effectively with school officials and others involved in order to gain clarity and ensure that all necessary provisions for more inclusive and developmental experiences are in place.
- Giving them time
Parents must spend quality time with their children, especially those who are disabled. They gain a better understanding of their social struggles at school, learning patterns, strengths, and weaknesses. To help their children reach their full potential, parents can assist them with homework and other academic activities while also focusing on emotional upbringing. School can be stressful for a child with special needs, and their families can contribute to creating a constructive yet positive environment to help foster a routine and boost their motivation as well as self-confidence.
Education provides them with the necessary skills and knowledge to become responsible citizens. Learning is a lifelong journey that encourages children to make good decisions. It's easy to lose sight of the future when there's so much going on in the present. Children with special needs rely on their parents to varying degrees. As a result, to provide the best possible guidance, parents must maintain their physical and emotional health. All educational assistance provided by parents to their special needs children invariably contributes to a more secure future.
