2006-06-14 12:20:47 · 13 answers · asked by ANDY W 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Special Education
First off, you need to have the patience of a saint, (or at least a high level of tolerance), a heck of alot of energy, a highly evolved sense of humor and alot of creativity. You will be working with some extremely difficult kiddos and the parents at times can be just as difficult. You have to be teacher, counselor, nurse's aide, friend, mentor, role model, engineer and artist. It's the most rewarding job you can get!!!
2006-06-14 12:28:13 · answer #1 · answered by b_friskey 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
First I'd have to ask if working with Special needs children is a career move, just a job, or a passion of yours. There is a difference, and these children no matter what the disability is will know the difference. If they feel love and concern from you it will then come back to you 10 times over. If this is just a job, you'll need all the help and advise you can get. Working with Special needs children is a desire I believe comes from God himself. It takes Special people to work with Special children.
My daughter was a special needs child and she was Blessed to have teachers and aides that had true hearts for this line of work. She looked forward to school everyday because of it. She past away 5 1/2 years ago just 2 weeks shy of her 16th Birthday. I will always be grateful to the teachers, aides, and her peers who treated her as just another student and all the Love and support they gave her through those years.
So I urge you to search your heart and think real hard as to whether this is an area you really want to go into. If it is, it will be the most rewarding and yet the most heart wrenching.
Good luck!
2006-06-15 06:36:56 · answer #2 · answered by Harley Diva 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
First, you might want to change your language because SOME people are gonna get mad at the word "disabled." I hate political correctness.
Anyway, being the parent of a disabled child, my first thought is that you should realize that they are all DIFFERENT. No two children (disabled or not) are gonna be the same. Get to know the individual child.
Second, have patience. LOTS of it.
Third, realize that in most cases, the parents DO know more about the child than the teachers do. Teachers are not gods and they only think they know as much as the parents. (Main reason my children have never set foot into a school.) For parents who can't teach their own children (or won't), teachers become stand-in parents. So be as loving to them as a parent would.
2006-06-14 14:12:03 · answer #3 · answered by married_so_leave_me_alone1999 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The key is to remember that you are working with a person. The disability is secondary. The only reason to have thoughts about the child's disability is to figure out how best to help them learn what they need to succeed in their lives.
Look for the person's strengths. Someone with difficulty reading may be good at putting puzzles and model kits together... future engineering tech! Someone with difficulty with social skills may be good at scientific reasoning.... each person's weaknesses and strengths are individual and different.
If you are working with someone who is NOT diagnosed as mentally retarded, then that person has NORMAL SMARTS, regardless of their disability. Expect them to be normal for their age, except in that one area of their disability. Study and learn about the specific disability they are challenged with, so you can help them learn the coping skills to get on with their lives.
If you are working with someone who is diagnosed as Mentally Retarded, remember that this is someone who is just slower to grow up... they have a developmental age, and should be treated at that age. A 10 year old who is mentally 3 years old, should be guided, disciplined, and given social and life skills training like you would a "normal" 3 year old. However, that person IS chronologically 10, so expect him/her to prefer being around other 10 year olds, and have "splinter" interests and skills that appear "normal" 10 year old.
Never forget the person.
2006-06-14 13:36:20 · answer #4 · answered by spedusource 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Depending on the disability, you may not be able to find child care for them. Sorry, I've lived this unhappy truth. Family members may be willing to help, but likely they won't want to do it permanantly. Figure out how to work from home, or work within the school district. That's what I do, and how I can be home when they are because we have the same calender.
2006-06-14 12:26:46 · answer #5 · answered by Singlemomof10 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Depending on the disability that you are dealing with you must remember that the child may still be capable of learning alot but just at a slower pace. Also, involve the child with all the "regular" kids,,,it's great for the kids.
2006-06-14 12:42:18 · answer #6 · answered by Jade 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Are you thinking of going into Special Education? It's a critical shortage area and there are some scholarships available to train you to teach in that area (check with your state or do a websearch). Volunteer or substitute teach in a special ed classroom to get the feel for it.
2006-06-14 12:25:24 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Show patience like a rock. Also keep the child busy. Give the a child a stimulating enviorenment. Above all, please be aware that you have been specially selected by god to look after a special baby.
2006-06-14 15:41:06 · answer #8 · answered by KUMARASAMY R 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, treat them as KIDS, not the disability , sure they have physical limits
2006-06-14 12:23:46 · answer #9 · answered by tiqhud 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Patience is definitely key. Peoples can definitely sense when someone is becoming frustrated so stay calm and be patient.
2006-06-14 12:24:26 · answer #10 · answered by OohLaLa 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋