Children With Disabilities

Recognition And Responses

Presented By: Maisha Jashim

What is Disability?
o Disability can be termed as a limitation rather than a physical condition as it
highlights all the aspects of an individuals life whether it is social side,
professional side or the educational side.
o According to the National Health Interview Surveys (NHIS) a significant
number of measured occurrence of disabled children who are aged under
eighteen have increased from 3.8 percent to 8.0 from 1981 to 2009
o Discussion of childhood disability has been highlighted several times by social
media, parents, scholars and physicians; which emphasizes specific reasons
related to child disability such as asthma, physical impairment, cystic fibrosis,
autism and mental retardation

Children With
Disabilities

oApproximately 1% of all newborn babies can be

identified as having conditions that are disabling
oAnother 1% of all disabling conditions are
detected during the 2nd year of life
oFrom 8-11% of the school-age population will
show conditions that need special education
services .

Situations Faced By Disabled

Children
o Disabled children are more likely to be abused or neglected.
o Disabled children are more likely to be neglected by their families and
societies.
o Disabled children are more likely to be physically abused.
o Disabled children are more likely to be sexually abused.
o Disabled children are more likely to be emotionally abused

o Raising A child With Disability

Often Parents suffer through mixed emotions such as:

o Sadness
o Anger
o Frustration
o Grief

How might parents neglect a disabled child?

Parents may fail to accept the impairment of

the child as a result they fail to accept the
child as their child infront of the society.

The parents of other

children may overly reject
the disabled child

Ways disabled children can

experience abuse
Physical abuse : a)failure to provide treatment
b)over-use of medication
c) forcing treatment that is painful
Emotional abuse :a) lack of communication or stimulation

teasing
b) bullying or blaming a child because of their impairment

Sexual abuse : Many disabled children are sexually harassed without even having the knowledge.

Practices Which Harm Disabled Children

Boarding school when home and local

facilities available.

Respite care used too frequently with

abandonment motive.

Locked into bedroom for long periods.

Excluded from family

functions/rituals/holidays.

Practices Which Harm Disabled Children

Failing to protect a child from physical harm or danger:

Not allowing adaptations to the home.

Not allowing wheelchairs in or outside the home.

Not allowing communication aids to enable child to be alert to harm/danger.

Not allowing sign language for example, that would enable child to alert others to danger.

Inadequate parenting.

Excessive surgery for normality/cosmetic purposes.

Unacceptance from the society.

Practices Which Harm Disabled Children

Failing to ensure adequate supervision

o Inadequate parenting.
Failing to ensure access to appropriate medical care or treatment
o Not allowing surgery when indicated.
o Do not resuscitate directives when not appropriate.
o Refusing tube feeding/gastrostomies when medically indicated.
o May include neglect of, or unresponsiveness to, a childs basic emotional needs.

Nature of impairment and attachment

More severe impairments are less likely to result in an insecure
attachment
One explanation for this suggests that when a childs disability is
unquestionably present and is likely to affect many aspects of his
or her functioning, including the childs ability to communicate his or
her needs, parental recognition, understanding and acceptance
increase, and expectations are therefore more realistic .

Raising A Child With Disability

As much as possible parents

should treat them just like any
other childrenespecially in
love and discipline
Nondisabled children may feel
resentful when the family
makes special arrangements for
the disabled child

Support A Child With Disability

Support groupsgather for

comfort, advice, and solutions
to everyday problems.
Keep parents up to date on
research and treatment
options.

Empowering Disabled Children

Communication

Consultation
Anti-bullying
Someone to turn to
Acceptance by the society as well as the family