Special Needs Disability - Essay Example

SPECIAL NEEDS DISABILITY Special Needs Disability This essay is based on the article ‘Raising a Gifted Child’ by Louisa Aquarius. In normal circumstances, a child with very high IQ is perceived as being very intelligent. Aquarius explains that despite this being a good sign, gifted abilities have challenges that in most occasions may require special intervention. At a young age, there is usually not much attention, but as children grow older especially into adolescence, discrepancies become noticeable. These discrepancies are the ones that contribute to learning disability despite having a high IQ. Both male and female children are prone to this form of special need (Aquarius, 2015). This report focuses on specific special needs of gifted children; the challenges they face and help that should be accorded to help them cope with their daily struggles. Gifted children are very high performers. The problem arises when they experience emotional, social, behavioural and educational strains as a result of their uniqueness. To begin with, they usually have problems when it comes to interacting with peers. Sometimes this situation is mistaken for autism (Aquarius, 2015). The reason is because they pay so much attention to what they are good. Nonetheless, other children avoid associating with them due to their gifted abilities. Such interferes with their ability to interact with others; most of the time they feel bored. When children are screened for learning disabilities, it becomes difficult to notice gifted children as part of the group that requires specialized attention. This is due to their outstanding abilities (Aquarius, 2015). Society, on the other hand, seems to set very high standards for these children to the extent that it becomes overwhelming (Baum, 1997). These attributes affect children to the extent of getting uncomfortable about displaying their abilities. It is based on the fact that they feel different from others. Moreover, due to boredom given the fact that they may not be good at socializing, children with these special needs become withdrawn and very self-conscious. Many things become irritable with them (Aquarius, 2015). The stigma that is attached to being different contributes to gifted students developing low self-esteem that arises from social isolation and constant bullying. Since the society has very high expectations, when they fail to deliver they feel demoralized and worthless. Based on the fact that they are sometimes not understood, they experience frustration. Just like in other forms of disabilities, these children require attention (Aquarius, 2015). Until recent times, disability was viewed as a curse or a punishment from gods. Other cultures associated it with supernatural powers though, in most societies, it was perceived as a bad omen. In the United Arab Emirates (UAE) before Federal law 29/2006 came into force, there were no laws that gave special consideration to people with special need. These people did not have access to equitable facilities and resources. Nobody cared about their rights. Most of the time, they would be denied equal opportunities especially when seeking job opportunities. Today, many schools have been developed in UAE to cater for students with special needs. Rehabilitation centres have also been developed (EUAE, 2011). Discrimination based on disability has to a large extent been eradicated following the enforcement of the law (EUAE, 2011). The history of special education in UAE moves from issues of neglect that were experienced in the 20th Century to isolation in the 1960s, to inclusion and integration today (Gaad, 2013). In the same way, people with special needs go through these transformations before they are fully accepted and also accept themselves. At first they are neglected either knowingly or unknowingly (Gaad, 2013). At this point, they may not be personally aware that they have problems that need to be addressed. Similarly, either knowingly or unknowingly they are isolated or they choose to isolate themselves. It is only through the intervention that people with special needs are eventually included or integrated into systems they did not earlier fit. Over the years, there has been a remarkable improvement in the way special needs are addressed and catered for. From the article by Aquarius, two opinions are derived. First opinion is that the author has a clear focus on all dynamics surrounding special needs for gifted children. This is exhibited by the fact that she can identify parenting issues as some of the problems experienced. Reason for this opinion is based on the fact that raising a gifted child is equally as difficult as raising any other disabled child. In the course of parent-child interaction, every parent is left with the task of identifying any unusual character that a child might display. In most cases, teachers may not be in a position to notice some issues without the guidance of the parent. Moreover any behaviour that children exhibit has an impact on their lives. Issues to do with parenting can therefore not be ignored. The second opinion revolves around the fact that 50 or 100 years ago, this article would not have been written the same way. Major changes have occurred in the special needs education systems. 100 years ago, society had not achieved its potential to the extent that it has today. Techniques and strategies that are used in confronting problems related to special needs had not been fully developed. If they were in existence, very few people had the expertise to apply them. Today, society has transformed to the extent that people are knowledgeable and aware of various special needs and how to deal with them. Not to forget, technological advancement has enhanced the scope of knowledge. Today, we have rehabilitation centres with experienced psychologists and therapist who can treat patients for full recovery. The most interesting thing in the article ‘Raising a Gifted Child’, is that it provides a deep insight of gifted children. This insight ranges from how to detect a gifted child to recommendations applicable under different circumstances. The vast information that has been given in the article is easy to connect and understand. It almost gives the impression that one is specialized in a particular field. On reading the article, people with real life experiences have an easier time relating what is written in the article to real situations at hand. This is important because people are always looking for reliable information that is practical and applicable. Some people rely on information from articles to find solutions to their problems. In conclusion, it is worth noting that both the government and other institutions need to continue creating awareness about special needs. More focus should be directed towards sensitizing people to the importance of monitoring gifted children. This is due to the obvious reason that exceptional children have unique requirements. Nonetheless, children with these needs have to learn how to manage situations and make sound judgement that brings out the best in them. Furthermore, they should be guided in career choices that will make their lives flexible rather than fixed. They should also be encouraged to be role models to other children with similar special needs. The main goal is to achieve self-worthiness and satisfaction. Sensitivity to the need of people with special needs is applicable to individual, organization and national levels. It requires collective responsibility by those who have no special needs as well as for those struggling with these needs. References Aquarius, L. W. (2015). Raising a Gifted Child. Al Nasir Publishers. Retrieved from http://gulfnews.com/life-style/parenting/raising-a-gifted-child-1.504545. Baum, S. (1997). Gifted But Learning Disabled: A Puzzling Paradox. Arlington: The Council for Exceptional Children. Retrieved from http://www.gifted.uconn.edu/siegle/tag/Digests/e479.html. Embassy of the United Arab Emirates (EUAE). (2011). Special Education. Washington, DC. Retrieved from http://www.uaecd.org/special-education. Gaad, E. (2013). Inclusion of Student With Special. Journal of International Education Research Needs Within Higher Education In UAE: Issues And Challenges, 9, 288-292. Read More