What are the Nature and

Characteristics of Children with

Special Needs?

Marie Grace A. Gomez

Irene C. Oael

Abstract

According to RA 7277, children with special needs are individuals aged 0-21 years old and primarily have special education and rehabilitation needs.

They differ from the average or regular child in terms of

1) Mental characteristics;

2) Sensory abilities;

3) Neuromuscular or physical characteristics;

4) Social abilities;

Children and Youth with Intellectual/ Mental

and Learning Disabilities

Intellectual Disability/ Mental Retardation

Learning Disability

Children and Youth with Sensory and

Communication Impairments

Deaf and Hard of Hearing [Hearing Impairment]

Blind and Low Vision [Visually Impaired]

Speech and Language Disorders/Delays

Children and Youth with Physical and Health

Impairments

Physical/ Orthopedic Impairments

Special Health Problems

Children and Youth with Social, Emotional

and Behavioral Problems Autism

Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder

[ADHD]

Behavioral Problems

Other children with special needs in the

Philippine context

Each group/sub-group is described based on the

following:

The disability characteristics as generally perceived and

understood,

The causes of the disability, and the potentials for:

1. learning,

2. performing physically and/or working,

3. taking care of oneself, and

4. relating with other people.

INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY

(Mental Retardation) True or false ◦ Is a mental illness

◦ Is communicable

◦ Is treatable

Below average mental ability and capacity to perform everyday activities ◦ Difficulty in focusing, remembering, generalizing

◦ Speed of learning is slow

◦ Can learn and perform practical tasks and basic self care skills unless severe

◦ Prefer younger children

LEARNING DISABILITY • invisible disability

• caused by genetic and environmental

factors that affect brain development –

structure and processes

• more common among boys

• normal mental ability and yet performs poorly in school

• difficulty in listening, thinking, speaking, reading, writing,

spelling or doing mathematical calculations.

• usually not noticeable during early schooling

• no psychosocial and self-care delays and yet some may

have social and emotional problems

• can finish college with educational support

• can pursue careers appropriate to their abilities

BLIND AND LOW VISION those who have difficulty performing visual tasks

even with the provision of corrective eye glasses

highest number of PWD in the country

caused by eye diseases, accidents, genetic abnormalities, malnutrition

do well in their studies as long as instruction is modified

can be employed as long as they have necessary skills and training

main concern is mobility

relationship of blind with sighted and vise versa

DEAF AND HARD OF HEARING

deaf - hearing organs are not functioning; hard of hearing has a sense of hearing only, it is defective

may be inborn or acquired, caused by diseases, accidents, improper use of drugs

same mental development as hearing

have difficulty in learning to speak

communication is usually by sign language

performs well in school and in workplace with proper training

can take care of themselves

difficulty expressing themselves among the hearing

SPEECH AND LANGUAGE

DISORDERS/ DELAYS tends to draw unfavorable attention to manner of speaking

rather than to the idea that they try to communicate

usually occur with other disabilities such as intellectual disability, autism, learning disabilities, cerebral palsy and brain injury

poor performance in school due to difficulties expressing themselves

may have delayed ability to learn tasks

fit to work as long as equipped to understand and express language

may need to be taught how to comprehend instructions on performing adaptive daily living skills

poor communication skills may hamper effective communication

PHYSICAL/ ORTHOPEDIC

IMPAIRMENTS whose impairment permanently or

temporarily interferes with the normal functions of the joints, muscles or limbs

caused by genetic abnormalities, diseases, maternal infections, accidents

learning not a problem; mobility and physical access is the concern

can work as long as provided with aids

can be trained to do self-help tasks; others need life-long support

SPECIAL HEALTH PROBLEMS

health conditions that tend to keep

children out-of -school or those with

chronic and/or illness like cardiac (heart)

diseases, asthma, diabetes, tuberculosis

and other respiratory ailments, cancer

decreased stamina and endurance

school attendance mainly affected

dietary restrictions

reduced work/ academic load

AUTISM an organic brain disorder

lifelong developmental disability,

usually evident after two years of age.

children “lose” the ability to speak after showing initial signs of language development

have difficulty relating with persons,

engage in stereotypic or atypical behaviors, obsessed with sameness

appears in several forms (classic autism, aspergers

AUTISM

some of those who have classic autism have intellectual disability and may do poorly in school compared with peers

those with aspergers may have above average mental ability

some lack spoken language others highly verbal

hyperactivity is common

can work well especially those involving routines

can be taught basic functional skills, others may not be able to live independently as adults

main concern are social and communication skills and sustaining long term relationships

ATTENTION DEFICIT

HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER (ADHD)

a condition wherein the child or youth has difficulty getting focused on tasks and displays excessive movement.

usually have average mental ability

more common among boys than girls

condition also co-exist with learning disabilities and emotional-behavioral disorders.

condition is hereditary

have structural or functional damage in the brain.

ADHD

primary difficulty is maintaining attention

encounter a lot of academic problems because of behavior

has tendency to be careless and therefore commit errors

have difficulty completing assigned duties making them inconsistent in performance.

not time-conscious and not concerned with order

have few friends because they lack appropriate social skills

Children with BEHAVIORAL

PROBLEMS those who cannot adjust to socially-accepted

norms of behavior

can be caused by biological/genetic factors and environmental factors

not able to sustain harmonious relationships with peers as well as with other people

perform poorly in school

includes: ◦ children in conflict with the law

◦ the emotionally disturbed

◦ children in difficult circumstances

have low to average mental ability

poor academic performance due to absenteeism

poorly motivated to attend school

some have mild forms of intellectual disability, or

learning disabilities, language delays.

poorly motivated to work and seem to lack the

energy to do so

tend to neglect personal care and safety ; may

resort to substance abuse , to get self-injurious.

have difficulty building and maintaining healthy

relationships with peers and adults

exhibit aggressive behaviors

Other children with special

needs in the Philippine context

Children in areas where there is armed

fighting between government soldiers and

rebel groups

Disadvantaged children including child

laborers and those belonging to minority

groups in extreme poverty and neglect.

How will these help

you as a social

worker? As a human

service provider?

Identification of

“red flags”

◦ Knowledge of

symptoms of a

disability will

enable the social

worker to help the

client better.

Helps in case management of social workers

Effective case management entails having a trusting and empowering direct relationship between the client and the social worker.

Having an understanding on the nature and causes of disability would enable the social worker to identify strategies that he or she will use for case management.

The social worker will be more sensitive and supportive to particular client with disability

Aids in clinical social

work practice

◦ Helps in providing

holistic intervention

that involves

The child with

disability

Parent and family

members

Houseparents and

other human service

providers

Identification of

relevant support

services

Helps in referring to

a SPED teacher

medical professionals

guidance counselors

Knowledge of disability serves as a guide for behavior management

◦ The social worker and other human service providers will be able to make behavior management plans based on the type of disability

Appreciating and

accepting diversity

Social workers will realize that

children are different. Some

may have disabilities but they

have their own talents and

strengths.

How can you

translate/

generalize these

data in your

workplace?

By being more

sensitive to the needs

of their clients with

disabilities

Understanding the

nature of various

disabilities enables on to

become empathic and

nurturing.

By understanding

that they, too, have

feelings, abilities,

talents and

ambitions like

regular children.

◦ By helping them

BECOME and develop

their fullest potentials

By informing and training

other human service

providers about the

nature and characteristics

of children with disability

so that they, too, will have

knowledge on

exceptionality.

By

networking

with other

professionals

for support