1 month ago
11 ARTICLE AD
Caring for special needs children requires a unique blend of understanding, patience, and love. Each child is different, with their own set of challenges and strengths, making it essential for caregivers to adopt tailored approaches that cater to their individual needs.
According to the National Autistic Society, approximately one in every 100 children in the United Kingdom is diagnosed with autism, while the UK’s Department for Education reports that around 15 per cent of children have special educational needs requiring additional support.
According to the World Health Organisation, approximately 15 per cent of the world’s population lives with some form of disability, which includes children with special needs. In Nigeria, this translates to millions of children who may require additional support.
The United Nations Fund reports that children with disabilities in Nigeria face significant barriers to education and healthcare. Their data highlights the need for inclusive policies and practices to support these children.
Special needs advocates agreed that understanding the specific needs of each child is crucial, as it allows caregivers to tailor their approaches and create an inclusive atmosphere. With the right support, they noted that special needs children can thrive, develop essential life skills, and build meaningful relationships.
They gave five ways that can help parents, guardians, and educators provide the best possible support for special needs children.
Society should support
According to a disability inclusion advocate, Bukola Ayinde, the best way for society to support families with special needs children is to first educate them.
She noted that African societies still had biases and believed all sorts of ridiculous myths about PWDs.
“If we can understand that a disability is not contagious and the bottom line is love and acceptance, PWDs have the right to enjoy their fundamental human rights. The community must unlearn and relearn about acceptance and inclusion and find ways to include PWDs in the community.
“One is to provide a conducive physical environment in public areas like parks, supermarkets, etc. Families should also educate their children not to bully kids with disabilities and avoid passing derogatory remarks,” she explained.
Do not label the child
A child psychologist, Eniola Olajobi, said parents should refrain from using certain derogatory words on their children because of their disabilities. She stated, “Often, children with special needs are labelled with all sorts of names; they experience stigma and are made to feel less human as compared to their peers. Children with special needs, like every other child, need unconditional love and affection from their immediate environment as well as their families.”
Believe it gets better
Olajobi, an education advocate for children with disabilities explained that in caring for children with special needs, parents and caregivers must accept and acknowledge the situation so that it can become easier to attain the readiness to put in the work required for progress and improvement.
“There are so many global examples of extremely successful individuals who against the odds of their special needs were able to thrive as a result of the growth mindset of their parents, teachers and caregivers.
“All the adults around children with special needs, at home and in school, parents, caregivers and teachers must work together for a common goal which is for the benefit of the children. There must be stable communication channels to ensure that the approaches and goals in school and at home are aligned,” she said.
Provide inclusive education
The special needs parenting coach further noted that the government should set aside funds to support families with children with disabilities in providing therapies, equipment, support systems, and drugs, adding that there are families that spend a lot to buy drugs every month.
“Also, the government should teach disability awareness, acceptance, and inclusion through different means. The government should sponsor NGOs that would take the message to the grassroots. The bottom line of what PWDs face in the society is stigmatisation. So, the government can help out by reducing this,” Ayinde added.
Create consistent routines for the child
Olajobi further advised parents to establish structured routines on a daily basis to help provide a sense of stability and predictability.
According to her, “Research has shown that routines stabilise the nervous system which regulates mood, thereby providing comfort for a child with special needs. Checklists and visual reminders are particularly useful to ensure the child themselves actively participate in the routine rather than just ‘shoving down their throats.”
Finally, experts believe that allowing children with special needs to enjoy a certain level of freedom could aid their development. They advised parents not to be overprotective or choke them.
As Olajobi puts it, “For children with special needs, there is a tendency for parents, caregivers or teachers to overprotect them and prevent them from exploring. Meanwhile, an opportunity to explore is an opportunity to learn from mistakes, succeed and grow.”
