Disability is a Possibility
A child who requires special education, may have learning disabilities, intellectual disabilities, or physical disabilities Also called “special child”.
Identifying them:
- A child who fails to give close attention to details or making careless mistakes in schoolwork or other activities.
- Difficulty sustaining attention in tasks or play activities.
- Not seeming to listen when spoken to directly
Goal of Special education - The ultimate goal of special education is integration or mainstreaming of learners with special needs into the regular school system and eventually in the community.
- Also making them self reliant in daily activities and providing a means of livelihood, wherever possible and social support
Assessment & Admission Procedures For Special Children
The Centre gives admission to the children with : –
- Mental Retardation
- Cerebral Palsy
- Autism
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Admission Is Open For Special Children Throughout The Year
1st Step :- Initially, the detailed case history of the child will be taken in an interview session from parents / caretaker. The medical documents available will be collected.
2nd Step :- A detailed assessment of the child will be made to know the performance age level in various areas of development. For this purpose, battery of tests will be used which includes an assessment kit developed by Manonandana technical team.
3rd Step :- Observation / training programmes will be given to the child along with parents for a minimum period of 15 days and for 2 hours / day.
4th Step :- Admission will be given after the procedure mentioned above is completed. 5th Step :- The special child will be placed in an appropriate group depending on the disabilities, mental age and the need.
Bus service is available for children, covering few areas which are about 3 km from the centre.
How to identify Intellectual Disability ?
Symptoms of an Intellectual Disability Symptoms of intellectual disability will typically start to surface in early childhood. In some cases, these signs might be physical. You might notice your child has an unusually large or small head, abnormalities with their hands or feet, or other physical differences. However, this isn’t always the case. Children who appear physically healthy and normal could also have an intellectual disability. Children who have severe intellectual disability might begin to exhibit symptoms at an earlier age than those with a milder form. If you are worried your child might have an intellectual disability, here are some of the early signs to look out for
Difficulty speaking
Beginning to move around later than other children
Trouble following simple instruction
Struggling to develop social skills
Delayed motor skills
Seizures
Temper tantrums
Aggressive behavior
Struggling to remember things
Difficulty problem solving
Difficulty developing social skills
Difficulty expressing emotions
Being unable to carry out personal care like getting dressed or taking a bath
Identifying an Intellectual Disability To diagnose an intellectual disability, the following criteria must be met:
Limited intellectual functioning
This is typically measured with an IQ test. A test score lower than 70 is usually indicative of limited intellectual functioning.
Limited adaptive skills
Here, a person with an intellectual disability will struggle with social and practical skills needed for daily functioning. These include conceptual skills like reading or writing, social skills like communication or problem solving, and practical skills like eating, walking, or getting dressed.
The onset of symptoms before the age of 18
This condition typically develops in childhod. While it ranges in severity, some early signs delayed motor skills, struggle with problem-solving, difficulty remembering things, and delayed speech.
In determining your child's diagnosis, several tests might be ordered by your healthcare provider and the team of specialists taking care of your child. These tests include:
- Neurological tests such as an electroencephalogram (EEG) or magnetic resonance imagining (MRI) to determine if there are any abnormalities in the brain.
- Genetic tests to help identify if there is an inherited disorder like Fragile X syndrome that could cause intellectual disability
- General medical tests depending on the symptoms your child is exhibiting
- Special education tests
- Developmental screening tests to determine your child’s level of intellectual and social functioning
- Prenatal screening to determine if there are any developmental challenges while a parent is still pregnant.
A hearing evaluation in case a hearing problem is responsible for the impaired intellectual functioning and not an intellectual disability. Causes of Intellectual Disabilities Anything that interferes with the proper growth and development of a child could cause an intellectual disability. It can be challenging to identify the specific cause of your child’s intellectual disability in some cases. Several culprits could be responsible for the development of an intellectual disability. Some of the most common include:
- Pregnancy complications
- Genetics
- Childhood illnesses that affect brain development
- Environmental factors like pollution
- Severe emotional or physical abuse
- Malnutrition
- Being born prematurely
- Chromosomal abnormalities like Down syndrome
- Head injuries