BYM.MAHALAKSHMI

12MSW018

INTRODUCTIONMentally challenged is an euphemism which

has been used for terms like; mental retardation, developmental disabilities etc.

To be mentally challenged, or to have a developmental disability, is to be confronted with a cognitive, emotional or physical impairment, especially one related to abnormal sensory or motor development. The difficulty appears in infancy or childhood and involves a failure or delay in progressing through the normal developmental stages of childhood.

Physically Challenged:A physically handicapped person is defined as

a person who has a disability of locomotor and neurological origin which constitutes a disadvantage or restriction in one or more aspects of daily living activities , including work.

Destitute:Any child who is not getting proper care even

if his/her parents are alive...  eg:- father is a criminal and is in jail.. n mother is not well..so there is no 1 to take care of child, so the child will be called as destitute child...

PROBLEMS OF THE CHILDRENChildren with mental retardation may learn to sit

up, to crawl, or to walk later than other children, or they may learn to talk later.

Both adults and children with mental retardation may also exhibit the following characteristics:

Delay with oral language developmentDifficulty learning social rulesDeficits in memory skillsDifficulty with problem solving skillsLack of social inhibitions

CONTD… The limitations of cognitive functioning will cause a

child with mental retardation to learn and develop more slowly than a typical child.

Children may take longer to learn language, develop social skills, and take care of their personal needs such as dressing or eating.

Learning will take them longer, require more repetition, and skills may need to be adapted to their learning level.

Nevertheless, virtually every child is able to learn, develop and become participating members of the community.

CONTD…A tragedy that some physically or mentally disabled children

face is abuse or neglect. Children with certain disabilities are unable to stand up for themselves, or may be unaware that they are being abused.

There is also a strong link between poverty and disability. Without proper care or education, disabled children are at greater risk of becoming impoverished or homeless. 

The adolescent and teenage years can be a difficult time for anyone, but disabled children often face a higher degree of teasing and taunting due to their mental and physical differences.