Special Needs, Special Settings
Santa Clara County Department of Family & Children's ServicesSpecial Needs, Special Settings
Reprinted with permission from David Barfield (dbar@vistech.net) from Florida's Waiting Children page. Not all of California's waiting children have special needs. However, some of our kids do have some medical or emotional problems that require special attention and care. Here are some descriptions of of disorders to help you make your decision.
ATTENTION DEFICIT DISORDER (ADD):
Children with ADD have a hard time paying attention, show impulsive behavior and are often very active. Parents of these children find that having clear rules and known consequences helps. Sometimes, these children can best manage themselves when on medication. Accepting one of these children means you will have to work closely with the school system to see that the child gets a teacher and a classroom setting that works for him/her. The child's therapist may suggest special parent classes and counseling. This counseling may be for the child, parents and any siblings.
ASTHMA:
Children with asthma may have frequent coughing and wheezing. They may take medication to control it. Some things which may help prevent asthma attacks are a very clean house and a balanced diet. As vigorous exercise may trigger asthma attacks for some children, parents need to ask their physicians if certain activities should be avoided. Frequently, swimming is a suggested activity as it helps increase lung capacity. If it is serious, there is a chance that the child will miss more than the average number of school days due to asthma. Parents of children with asthma need to be sure that there is cooperation from the school in regard to making up assignments and keeping up with their grade level.
AUTISM:
When children are diagnosed as autistic, their behavior and communications are affected. Their ability to learn, understand and participate in social activities is different from others. Children with autism may withdraw from contact with others, not form/or have personal relationships, have abnormal responses to sensations and repetitive motor behaviors. Children with autism may avoid eye contact and game playing. Their language is usually delayed or impaired. They may repeat what others say and/or repeat unclear words and sounds. Children with autism like routine, they do not like change. Some children require long term supervision. Early interventions, such as special education classes and individualized training programs help to lessen the severity of their condition. Children with autism require schooling that focuses on learning language and self help skills. When communicating with a child with autism, be direct, use simple directions, have the child ask for things by name and encourage interactions with children with a higher level of development. Reinforcements such as tokens, food or small toys to control behavior are successful.
BINOCULAR VISION DISORDER:
A disorder in this area can mean anything from seeing slightly out of focus, to seeing two or more of everything, to near blindness. Corrections from this disorder can range from wearing glasses, wearing a patch over one eye, to corrective surgery to nothing. Depending on the disorder, there can be psychological disturbances involved.
CEREBRAL PALSY:
Children who have cerebral palsy have a group of medical conditions, not a disease. These children have a lack of control over their muscles. They may have poor balance, difficulty in walking and movement and speech impairment. Sometimes cerebral palsy shows itself only by a slight awkwardness in their walk. A person with more severe cerebral palsy may find it necessary to use a wheelchair, braces or special shoes for assistance. Often there are other related disabilities such as seizures, an inability to see, hear, speak or learn as other people do and emotional problems. Many children with C.P. are sensitive to light, loud music and temperature. They are frequently congested and may drool.
CYSTIC FIBROSIS:
A hereditary disease that causes chronic respiratory infections. Children with C.F. require regular medication and sometimes a daily therapy to break up mucus in the lungs. Their diet must be monitored. With good, consistent care, most C.F. patients will live well into adulthood. Considerable research is being done on this disease and there is the possibility of a cure in the near future.
DEAF:
Children who are deaf may have a hearing loss that is partial or total. Since they are unable to recognize sound, they must learn to communicate in ways other than speech. Children may learn to use sign language. Children who are deaf are likely to be enrolled in special classes or a school for the deaf at some point.
DEVELOPMENTAL DELAYS:
These children are not able to do what we might expect them to do at a certain age. The developmental tasks such as crawling, walking, talking, toilet training, writing and coloring may happen later. Some of the children will catch up with other children their age and for some the delays may be permanent.
EARLY INTERVENTION:
Providing programs and services to infants and children with disabilities during the period of most rapid growth and development--birth to five years.
ENURETIC:
These children still wet the bed. This may include daytime wetting as well. It may occur from time to time or on a regular basis. Sometimes the reason for wetting the bed is physical and sometimes it is emotional.
EPILEPSY:
Abnormal electrical-chemical brain activity causing seizures of varying types and intensity. Epilepsy may occur because of brain damage or injury, illness or chemical imbalances. More than 80% of these cases can be controlled with medication.
FETAL ALCOHOL EFFECTS:
When children are born with fetal alcohol effects, it means that their birth mother drank alcohol during her pregnancy. There may be some minor facial differences these children have and non fetal alcohol children do not have. Many of these children will be hyperactive, have difficulty staying on task and many have some learning difficulties.
GASTRIC DIFFICULTIES:
Stomach related problems. In some cases, it may be constipation which is a condition with infrequent and difficult bowel movements. A balanced diet and possibly the use of medication helps to reduce discomfort.
GROUP HOME SETTING:
These settings provide care for children who are unable to benefit from traditional foster family care because of their inability to handle the emotional closeness of family life. These settings provide structure and group interaction designed to change attitudes and behaviors. Additional treatment services are also available. Adoptive families need to understand that the child will need to learn how to comfortably live in a family. This will take time. It will be necessary to work with the group home parents before placement and after.
MILDLY MENTALLY HANDICAPPED:
Children with mild deficits may be able to feed themselves and drink from a cup. There may be frequent spilling. They will try to dress themselves and take care of their personal care needs, but they may need some help. These children may be mostly toilet trained; however, accidents are common. In school they will need to be in special education classes where there are fewer students. They receive more one on one attention this way. While their socialization skills may not be like other children their age, they are able to play and do activities with others.
MODERATELY MENTALLY HANDICAPPED:
Children with moderate deficits take a little longer to learn how to dress and feed themselves. Their language skills are basic and they are able to communicate basic needs and desires. These children should develop skills which will allow them to live in a supervised home when they are adults. They will always need some assistance.
OOMOCEOPHALY:
A condition where the child's stomach and intestines are on the outside of the body. This is a correctable condition that requires surgery usually within two years after birth.
SCOLIOSIS:
Persons with scoliosis have a curvature of the spine. The condition may require surgery or the wearing of a brace. Severe cases may result in decreased lung capacity. Children with mild forms of scoliosis can participate in most activities in the care giving setting. Children who wear a brace should be encouraged to participate in activities whenever possible. When a child requires surgery, he/she may miss several weeks or months of school. Physical therapy may be necessary.
SHORT BOWEL SYNDROME: This means that the child has only part of the small intestine. The child may become dehydrated and unable to absorb the vitamins and minerals the rest of us get when we eat. These children require a nutritional supplementin the form of a liquid called TPN. It is normally given to the child through a tube directly into the stomach and supplies the child with the nutrients needed. Parents can be trained to care for children with this syndrome.
SPINA BIFIDA: A birth defect characterized by failure of the bone to completely enclose the spinal cord. Babies born with spina bifida may also have hydrocephalus or fluid on the brain. They may have little or no sensation in the lower half of the body. The cause of spina bifida is not known.
THERAPEUTIC FOSTER HOME: A family setting in which the foster parents have been provided special training to meet the needs of children experiencing emotional problems. Typically, these families have a treatment plan for each child and work closely with the therapist to carry out that plan. Usually these homes have a smaller number of children in them. Children are placed in these settings only after a very thorough review of their treatment needs. Families adopting children who are living in therapeutic foster homes will need to learn how to carry out the treatment plan and work with the therapeutic foster parents during the placement process and after placement. The period of transitioning from the therapeutic home to the adoptive home may be longer than usual.
VISUALLY IMPAIRED: Partial or total loss of sight due to congenital defect, injury or accident.
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Social Services Agency
Department of Family &
Children's Services1725 Technology Drive
San Jose, CA 95110-1360
(408) 441-5825
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