Teaching a Child Teaching a Child with Special Needswith Special Needs

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

One day, it became One day, it became deeply scratched. The deeply scratched. The king called his best king called his best diamond cutters, diamond cutters,

““I’ll promise you a great I’ll promise you a great reward if you can reward if you can remove the imperfection remove the imperfection from my jewel.”from my jewel.”

But they could But they could not. not.

The king was The king was very upset.very upset.

Many months later, Many months later, a man came to the a man came to the king. He promised king. He promised to make the to make the diamond even diamond even more beautiful more beautiful than it ever had than it ever had been. been.

Impressed by the Impressed by the man’s confidence, man’s confidence, the king the king consented.consented.

He watched as the He watched as the man engraved an man engraved an exquisite exquisite rosebud around rosebud around the blemish and the blemish and used the scratch used the scratch to make its stem.to make its stem.

--A parable of the --A parable of the Preacher of Dubno Preacher of Dubno from Jewish folklorefrom Jewish folklore

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

ConclusionConclusion

What is a disability?What is a disability?PhysicalPhysical

MentalMental

Emotional Emotional

Or any combination of the above that Or any combination of the above that presents challenges for children and/or presents challenges for children and/or their parents/guardianstheir parents/guardians

Physical DisabilitiesPhysical Disabilities

Derek’s Derek’s PoemPoem

I am a winner of the simple game of life,I am a winner of the simple game of life,Even though not physically.Even though not physically.I wonder if I will ever have the luck to win the day with honor.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 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 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 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 am a winner of the simple game of life.

I pretend that God is a person.I pretend that God is a person.He is but only watching down on us from the perspective of heaven.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 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 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 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,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,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.It may not be your best but it will be my best.I am a winner of the simple game of life.I am a winner of the simple game of life.

I understand that I am disabled,I understand that I am disabled,But not everything in this world is basketball.But not everything in this world is basketball.I say that I will be a strong person,I say that I will be a strong person,But I will be strong to my extent.But I will be strong to my extent.I dream that the world will someday be near perfect,I dream that the world will someday be near perfect,And that every life brought into this world will be respected.And that every life brought into this world will be respected.I try my hardest at everything,I try my hardest at everything,And if I’m not then give me a little help.And if I’m not then give me a little help.I hope that someday my disease will die.I hope that someday my disease will die.I am a winner of the simple game of life.I am a winner of the simple game of life. By: Derek Semler

Treatment for physical disabilities:Treatment for physical disabilities:

Special exercisesSpecial exercises

Special Special equipmentequipment

What should you do in terms of What should you do in terms of teaching?teaching?

Help the children to be independentHelp the children to be independent– Personal grooming and care Personal grooming and care

Bathing, etc.Bathing, etc.

– Eating on their own and other Eating on their own and other typical everyday activitiestypical everyday activities

Getting dressed, etc.Getting dressed, etc.

http://cjcphoto.com/can/

Mental DisabilitiesMental Disabilities

AutismAutism– Wide range of behaviorWide range of behavior

– Tend to be focused on one Tend to be focused on one thing to the exclusion of othersthing to the exclusion of others

– Treatment = Treatment = individual attention, small individual attention, small groups, patiencegroups, patience

– Visit www.cureautismnow.org Visit www.cureautismnow.org for more information.for more information.

Learning DisabilitiesLearning DisabilitiesA limitation in the A limitation in the way a person’s brain way a person’s brain sorts and uses sorts and uses informationinformation

A specific limitation in A specific limitation in acquiring certain acquiring certain types of informationtypes of information

DyslexiaDyslexiaA disability with A disability with reading, often sees reading, often sees letters or words in letters or words in an order other than an order other than they actually appearthey actually appear

1st step diagnosis, 1st step diagnosis, ideally before schoolideally before school

Work with a Work with a specialist, treat or specialist, treat or learn to compensatelearn to compensate

ADHDADHDLess able to focus on Less able to focus on

an activity for a long an activity for a long period of time, they period of time, they are easily distracted are easily distracted by other people and by other people and activitiesactivities– A lifelong condition A lifelong condition

that cannot be cured, that cannot be cured, but can be treatedbut can be treated

– For effective treatment For effective treatment both medication and both medication and structure (behavior structure (behavior training)training)

Treatment & TeachingTreatment & TeachingBegin EARLYBegin EARLY

Use examples/demonstrationsUse examples/demonstrations– Keep things simple & directKeep things simple & direct

Who can have a disability?Who can have a disability?

Frida Kahlo

Other Famous People with Attention Deficit Other Famous People with Attention Deficit and Learning Disordersand Learning Disorders

GalileoGalileo

Thomas EdisonThomas Edison

Wright BrothersWright Brothers

Leonardo de VinciLeonardo de Vinci

Woodrow WilsonWoodrow Wilson

Hans Christian Hans Christian AndersonAnderson

F. Scott FitzgeraldF. Scott Fitzgerald

Walt DisneyWalt Disney

Louis PasteurLouis Pasteur

Winston ChurchillWinston Churchill

Henry FordHenry Ford

Robert KennedyRobert Kennedy

Alexander Graham BellAlexander Graham Bell

StatisticsStatisticsExperts estimate that 6 to Experts estimate that 6 to 10 percent of the school-10 percent of the school-aged population in the aged population in the United States is learning United States is learning disabled. disabled.

Nearly 40 percent of the Nearly 40 percent of the children enrolled in the children enrolled in the nation's special education nation's special education classes suffer from a classes suffer from a learning disability. learning disability.

The Foundation for Children The Foundation for Children With Learning DisabilitiesWith Learning Disabilities estimates that there are 6 estimates that there are 6 million adults with learning million adults with learning disabilities as well.disabilities as well.

Emotional DisabilitiesEmotional DisabilitiesNervous HabitsNervous Habits

Loss of AppetiteLoss of Appetite

SleeplessnessSleeplessness

Excessive FearExcessive Fear

Aggressive or Violent Aggressive or Violent BehaviorBehavior

TreatmentTreatmentTherapistTherapist

Behavior SpecialistBehavior Specialist

Remember!Remember!Everyone is different Everyone is different

and we all deserve and we all deserve the best!!!the best!!!

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