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Helping Children with Special Needs
Introduction
By the end of this article, you should be able to:
a) Discuss bow to identify', rehabilitate and refer children with special needs
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Children with special needs are those whose performance, experiences or life patterns from, what
is considered the norm
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These therefore, include children who are gifted, talented, physically or mentally
challenged and those with hearing and visual impairment
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These children are very much in need of rehabilitation
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It is the treatment designed to facilitate the
process of recovery from injury7, illness, psychological problems or diseases to as normal a
condition as possible
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It is also defined as failure to provide the child with the care that circumstances demand
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Child abuse takes place different, ways and may take place within the family outside the family or
in institutions like schools orphanages or rehabilitation centers
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Identifying an abused child
There are signs or symptoms that may help in identifying children who are abused
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When a child displays a number of these symptoms, or any of
them to a marked degree, the possibility of abuse should be investigated
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 Low self-esteem and lack confidence
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 Inability to communicate clearly, such as having speech disorders
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 Extreme reactions such as depression, self-mutilation, suicide attempts running away and
overdoses
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 Injuries, bruises and cuts in the body including, sex organs and unexplained fractures
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 Regressing to younger behaviour patterns such as thumb sucking and bed-wetting
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Other people in the community or neighbourhood may
also assist in identifying the abased child- After identifying such a child, the counsellor can then
find the best ways to help the child
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Therefore, when counselling
children, the counsellor will need to address not only the interpersonal issues of the child in
individual counselling, but also systematic issues involving the child's parents and/ or family which
may be causing and/or maintaining the child's problems, or are a consequence of these problems
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Some of these considerations include:
 Confidentiality
 Communication styles
 Use of play
 Using drawing
Confidentiality
Confidentiality is important when counselling abused children since it assures litem of security
and respect
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The children
will have the confidence of these people but not that of the counsellor, necessitating the counsellor
to seek their assistance if need be
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Communication styles
When a counsellor is talking to a child, he/she should do so with respect and with due consideration
of their cognitive and language development levels
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The counsellor should
communicate using short sentences and ask simple questions that help the child to describe his
experiences more freely
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The counsellor should listen more
than talk, so as to encourage the child to tap: thereby get the needs, wishes and the dreams the
child has
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The counsellor should therefore provide time, space, materials and
supervision for play during counselling
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Play is important in child counselling because it:
1
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2
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3
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4
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Using drawing
Drawing is a technique that is useful when counselling abused children because through it

emotions that lie deep down in the child's heart may be uncovered and interpreted
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 Keep the drawing activity relaxed and enjoyable for the child
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 Enquire from the child what she/ he has drawn so as to ascertain his intentions
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 Emotions that are too powerful or too confusing to think about clearly find release through
crayons and painting on paper
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Counseling the HIV affected or infected child
Children affected by or infected with HIV often suffer stigma from the people around them
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These would include financial needs and treatment, as well as the
need to overcome fear, anger, anxiety and confusion
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It is the duty of the
counsellor to advise the caregiver of the infected/affected child on how to manage, and contain the
problems that are related to HIV
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Counseling children from divorced or separated parents
When a divorce or separation occurs, it is the children who are likely to suffer the most, this is
because of the love they have for both parents and it is difficult for the children to decide which
parent to live with
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These include increased bed-wetting and crying spells for younger
children expression of anger, aggression and signs of withdrawal from older children
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The parents suffer psychologically and materially as a
result of the divorce arrangements and this also further contributes to the child's problems
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This helps the child to know that they can still cope with their new circumstances
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The children should be made so know that they are not to blame for the divorce
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Teachers and caregivers should not stigmatize such children
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Some of them were born
on the streets and grew up there, others have run away from home due to unfavourable conditions
whereas some are brought to the streets and abandoned by their parents
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Most of these children abuse drugs, especially glue, live in dirty environment and have
poor personal hygiene
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They experience various difficulties especially since most of them have no relatives or homes
to go to
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When a child is unable to vary his
responses to frustrating situations, so that his needs become satisfied in a socially acceptable
manner, ii is possible that he/she will become maladjusted to some extent
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They need to be (rum set led just like any other traumatized children
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The counsellor can then
refer them to suitable '[rehabilitation centers
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The)
also need to be trained on personal hygiene, proper manners and responsibilities
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He/she can also raise die issue with the government for assistance
in the rehabilitation processes
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Inspiring the gifted
Talented and gifted children are those children with an ability or potential to develop to a level
significantly a head of their age mates or year group
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The expression
gifted learners' is usually used to refer to children with outstanding abilities in one or more subject
areas
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These children are always ahead of the normal set
class work and they finish any assigned work faster than the average child
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However, they can become a nuisance in class if they are
not adequately catered for in terms of work given and constant guidance by the teacher
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 Specific academic aptitude
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 Visual and performing arts like fire art, drama, design or dressmaking
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 Leadership abilities
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The teacher needs to inspire the children by
giving them challenging tasks according to their ability
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It is very important for the
parents, teachers and other caregivers to know how to deal with them and the kind of activities to
give them
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a) Answer all the children's questions as best as you can
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b) Provide plenty of opportunities for creativity, exploration, experimentation, manipulation
and observation
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" "When" and "what" questions as they engage in different
activities
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d) Allow children freedom to do what they want as long as thev ensure safety and good
conduct
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These children should he
counselled no to look down on those who are slow in performing certain activities or in
understanding new concepts
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Guide them in
realizing that they need others in order to live happy and fulfilled lives
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Thev should be helped to behave well
when with adults and other children, have good interpersonal relations, work in a team and
appreciate the work of others
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Handicapped children are those with a disability,
either of the body or the mind
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These disabilities can be severe or mild
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The counsellor should be
concerned with the child's self-concept
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Being listened to builds respect and a sense of
worth
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The counsellor
should focus on the positive things the child has or can accomplish rather than on the negative
aspects of their lives
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These needs depend on their own abilities and it should be noted
that children will not achieve the teacher to come across category of children
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The teacher should
counsel, encourage and help such children to see themselves as complete individuals even with
their disabilities
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They may also need to be referred

to specific institutions rehabilitation for their specific handicap
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For someone to be deemed
emotionally disturbed, it must, be determined that the person's condition results in functional
impairment that substantially interferes with are or more major life abilities such as eating, dressing
and bathing
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According to some educationists, a troubled child is characterized by:
a) Repeated deliberate anti-social behaviour
b) Showing abnormal attempts to please others
c) Having habitual easy crying
d) Putting others down by calling them names
e) Lacking decision-making abilities
f) Showing withdrawal symptoms or retreats to fantasy
g) Being tense
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The
child should be taught ways of coping with frustration by using problem solving techniques
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Even when the mistake is repeated, the approach should be reminded
once more not to repeat the mistakes explaining reasons why
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Thev need a counsellor who can provide security
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This approach does more good to the children than shouting at them
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The teacher or the parents should take time to listen to and help an emotionally disturbed child
who approaches them
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The role of the counsellor includes the following:
a) Forming a relationship with a child that includes well-defined responsibilities and limits
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c) Conducting individual and group counselling sessions to deal with feelings and behaviours
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e) Assisting parents and teachers in being supportive to the child
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 Children who are abused, affected or infected by HIV/AIDS, children from divorced or
separated parents and street children can also be termed as children with special needs and
they all need services of guidance and counselling
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