Assignment task:
Your opinion about this discussion post?
Raising a child with special needs is not easy, especially when a parent is unprepared physically, emotionally, psychologically, and financially to deal with the situation. There are a lot of stigmas linked to children who have special needs, something that ultimately adds to the pressure that parents already have. After going through numerous types of research and reflecting on what I have seen work in the past, one thing I think would help families raising a special needs child is changing one's attitude and perspective to view the children as having different abilities.
Dealing with a child who has special needs results in a lot of stress within the family unit because of the additional care that will need to be given at all times. However, Singh & Verna (2017) note that making a careful plan that is also systematic significantly reduces this stress. Without a plan, the likelihood of getting overwhelmed becomes significantly higher compared to if there was a plan in place to guide the care provided to the child. It is important for these parents to change their view of the special needs child from a child who has a disability, to a child who has a different ability. Even though this change looks small, the change in perception goes a long way in reducing stress and helping the child get to the best of their ability. The notion that the child has a disability means that the parents view the child as lacking in something, while the notion that the child has different abilities focuses on the child's uniqueness. Both ways of looking at the situation are quite distinct and one will help the parents not compare the special needs child to other children, but appreciate them just the way they are.
Consequently, changing the perception one has towards the child's situation helps the child live life to its maximum potential. In most cases, the child will get to live a life that is as close to normal as possible when the child gets the needed psychological and educational capabilities based on their special needs. Acknowledging that the special child has a different ability entails getting the child into an educationally enriched environment that is suitable for their learning. The child with special needs requires to be educationally empowered (Murray et al., 2013) so that they can compete favorably in a society with children who do not have special needs. However, the parents are only truly able to empower their special needs child in every way when they have fully accepted their condition.
In conclusion, it is important for parents raising children with special needs to learn everything there is to learn about their child's condition so that they are prepared for anything coming their way. Information is power and not knowing what experiences the child has or the child's level of capability creates situations where a parent could be caught off-guard. However, with the relevant information, parents can have the needed provisions in place to ensure that they are prepared for any potential circumstances. The stress and uncertainty that comes with not knowing are averted.