Children with special needs and their inclusion in school

Here's what you need to know about children with special needs and their inclusion in school. You will discover that there is much you can do from home.

The inclusion of children with special needs in school is not a taboo subject. Although for many years it was very difficult to address the issue, even in first world countries, nowadays it is no longer necessary.

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Today we must bet, more than ever, to try to take advantage of the potential of all children so they can be human beings tomorrow.

For this, those who really must understand that a difficulty is not a hindrance for life, are the parents. Yes, we must be realistic with the difficulties of children, but we should not let ourselves be carried away by pessimism or fatalism.

Children with special needs need their parents to see beyond the problem and have a proactive attitude that allows them a satisfactory school inclusion , especially in their first years of life.

Children with special needs

Children with special needs are those who require the support and care of an adult to carry out various activities.

This does not imply that they have an intellectual disability. Special needs cover various aspects. Especially if an environment of marginalization underlies.

Depending on the needs, the intervention will be to a greater or lesser extent. Regardless of this, what children really need is dedication and perseverance so that they can achieve their learning, both inside and outside the classroom.

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The most common difficulties:

Asperger.
Autism.
Dysphasia
Acalculia
Anxiety.
Depression.
Malnutrition.
Down's Syndrome.
Physical disability (visual, auditory, motor).
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder .
On the other hand, children with a high IQ also need some help in adapting to the school environment. Especially to avoid educational dyssynchrony , as this can lead to low academic performance and demotivation.

Note that children with a high IQ may feel that the tasks are too repetitive or tedious, which reduces their interest in both studies and their classmates.

Why is it important to discuss your needs at school?

It is very important to talk about children with special needs in school to avoid misunderstandings, punishments and other problems arising from it.

It is also very important to prepare a cooperative plan that includes family members (or tutors), teachers and administrative staff of the school institution.

In this way, a much more proactive environment will be fostered when looking for solutions to the difficulties and, therefore, there will be better communication.

Contrary to what one might think, talking about children with special needs in the institution does not mean that we expose them to criticism and ridicule.

Likewise , the needs must be identified in an assertive manner as well as monitoring the progress of the strategies applied and the quality of the tools, since the important thing is to make sure that the children achieve their goals.

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The plans should not be static. In fact they must be flexible enough so that they can adapt to the child and meet their needs.

Strengthen your self-esteem and avoid condescension
The overprotective parents that limit the social relations of their children and create an atmosphere of ignorance and mystery around them do not benefit your child in the short or long term.

On the other hand, teachers who are too permissive and condescending with children with special needs do not help them to really learn. Their permissiveness can create an environment of falsehood around them that does not strengthen or actually educate them.

None of the agents surrounding a child with special needs is usually ill-intentioned. However, unintentionally, its impact on the child's education can be highly damaging.

Parents who do recognize their children's disabilities, but who do not know how to see beyond them, do not bring anything positive to their children.

They do not realize that they do have a potential that goes beyond their difficulties, and that with a little help, they can achieve their maximum emotional, social and, of course, academic development.

So, recognizing the strengths of our children, as well as providing support so they can have some independence day by day, will improve their confidence and interpersonal skills.

The inclusion of children with special needs in school should be without pity at home. It is therefore important to learn about the study modalities offered by the institutions and what are the tools that will allow us to better watch over them.