Classroom Interventions For Autism

ASD (autism spectrum disorder) causes several problems for children in the classroom and at school. For them to comprehend and succeed, the educational program might need to be modified in a particular manner. In addition to specialized input like speech and language and occupational therapy, several individuals find that having a skilled teacher assist them is crucial. The other students must comprehend and acknowledge the possibility of varying behaviors and requirements exhibited by the autistic student.

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Autism has a variety of effects on learning. Autistic students struggle to modify their conduct for various educational settings. For students with autism, changes to their routine or anything out of the ordinary can be quite stressful. Additionally, they need help with social interaction. Playing with others in the class is one of the main ways that learning happens in lower primary school. Students on the autism spectrum may find this challenging. For some autistic students, learning requires movement. Due to restricted space and the potential for disturbing other pupils, this could be problematic in a general education classroom.

However, you must thoroughly understand all learners and their unique demands before creating a strategy or education program, carrying out an individual education plan, or executing techniques. To provide the greatest classroom interventions for students with autism, you should consider the following points.

Comprehension

It is important to recognize that each autistic child has a unique comprehension level. Some kids on the autism spectrum require continuous one-on-one assistance, ideally from a qualified teaching assistant, as they are completely incapable of following directions in the educational setting. If a youngster doesn’t ask for assistance, it’s crucial to avoid assuming they know what’s happening. For a child with autism, written directions or visual illustrations may be necessary to support understanding and adhering to a schedule. Instructions given verbally should be brief and straightforward (utilizing the most basic speech approach). It is best to provide the youngster time to assimilate spoken information and to supplement it with visual signals.

Sensory Sensitivity

You must be attentive and aware of the child’s sensory requirements and sensitivity. For example, you need to consider where the child is placed within the room and window treatments like blinds and curtains if they have light sensitivity. For those who are sensitive to light, customized glasses could be necessary. The other pupils must be conscious of their noise levels if the child is sensitive to noise. If a kid has auditory sensitivity, they might be unable to participate in lessons like music. A tactile sensitivity could indicate that a particular art theme is inappropriate. As a result, consider their problem with texture, size, and shapes.

Visual Aids

To effectively support people with ASD, environmental modifications can be applied in all circumstances and settings. There are numerous ways that visual supports and aids can help kids with autism understand and absorb the material in the classroom. Kids can benefit from visual timetables to assist them in sticking to a daily schedule, and single visuals and images can be utilized as resources to aid in comprehending. Because it may be simpler to comprehend what they see, a kid may find it easier to comply with instructions when an activity is broken down visually. Since a visual clock promotes motivation and concentration, it can also assist with attending to and finishing a task.

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Communication

A communication plan and tools for interaction should be tested if there is a communication problem. A speech-language pathologist or therapist can plan, execute, and provide support for this approach and strategy. Communicating and comprehending can be substantially improved by employing a total communication approach. In an effort to provide the subject and the listener with as many indications as possible, this technique uses as many modes of communication as possible, such as signs, pictures, speech, etc. Teachers and other non-autistic students in the class must be patient and understanding of the interpersonal abilities of the autistic students, as autistic children may need repeated instructions.

Out Of School Trips Or Transitioning

For many kids on the autism spectrum, changing classrooms or going on field trips can be traumatic. To facilitate the endeavor, organize a vacation or change in the child’s regular schedule, notify them well in advance, and, if necessary, create a social tale. Similar plans can be made for transitioning to a new school, where the child’s previous instructor must be well-versed in them. Children with autism find it challenging to mentally, emotionally, and physically shift in a short amount of time because they are accustomed to their existing circumstances. It’s advisable to introduce them to different classes or locations first, then progressively let them explore the new setting.

Impact Learning

Autism has a variety of effects on learning. Autistic students struggle to modify their thoughts and behavior in various contexts. For students with autism, changes to their regular routine or anything out of the ordinary can be quite stressful. Due to space limitations and the potential for disturbing others in the class, this could be problematic in a room dedicated to general education. Educators need to be mindful of the danger of mistreating students in the classroom, regardless of whether they have autism or not.

Curriculum

The term “functional skills” describes abilities that children with autism will require on a daily basis. These crucial and practical abilities can be applied to assist autistic children in other areas of their lives. If the kid with autism cannot communicate, interact with others, or pay attention, then trying to strictly adhere to the curriculum will not be successful. It would be more beneficial to study certain practical abilities and attempt to modify subjects to integrate elements required for social and communicative skills for those who struggle with learning. The young person must understand when to ask for guidance when he needs it and seek help when he is confused.

Classroom Set-Up

Labeling resources and areas is one of the key tactics for setting up a classroom for students with autism. Someone with an autism spectrum may be more effective in a classroom setting if the learning environment is set up in a particular manner. In general, teachers can assist pupils in understanding expectations and making sense of their surroundings. For autistic children to actively embrace the challenges of learning, social contact with instructors, classmates, and other people is crucial. Select materials you know will grab students’ attention and stimulate their minds, such as books on interesting topics. Personalized instruction is essential because it is typical for autistic kids to become very interested in certain things.

 Social stories

Social stories are an excellent teaching and communication tool for kids with ASD. Social stories are simple to create, center on actual events, and may be utilized again and again as needed. Although the stories are centered on written narratives, illustrations may be included to aid comprehension. They inform the person about what will occur in a specific social circumstance and concentrate on the people acting in certain ways and the reasons behind them. Narratives can offer spatial and temporal details regarding the potential dates and locations of events. The narrative can provide socially acceptable answers while concentrating on specific areas of need, including communication or social skills.

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Imaginative Writing

Creative writing, sometimes called imaginative writing, is a type of writing in which the author expresses their ideas and emotions in a poetic, inventive, and frequently one-of-a-kind manner. There are many distinct types of imaginative writing, but they are all characterized by the artist’s freedom to use their thoughts and creativity. It might be challenging for many kids with ASD to express themselves through writing using their imaginations. To get around this, you can perform a scene or situation before you write it down. After that, the child has a “blueprint” to work with. This is a strategy that educators must use to support autistic children in developing their self-expression, fine-tuning transferrable abilities, gaining awareness of their surroundings, and learning meaningful and entertaining life lessons.

Other issues to remember

Instructors need to be aware of additional concerns surrounding the pupil. It helps to know what agitators and motivators the student is susceptible to while creating lesson plans. If certain lectures are more inspiring than others, try alternating them by having an inspiring lesson after a less inspiring one. After finishing the non-motivating lesson, you can use the motivating one as a reward. In addition, teachers need to be aware of the child’s current drug medication and food requirements since these factors might affect the kid’s well-being. Additionally, the child can exhibit complex or difficult and inappropriate behavior inside the classroom for no particular reason, which is something teachers must prepare themselves for. Thus, it’s critical to establish a behavioral plan and methods.

Conclusion

Once more, it is critical to stress that every kid is different and that the tactics employed must consider their individual needs. By implementing these three successful educational tactics for children with autism, teachers can broaden their academic and professional skill sets and foster an environment that promotes inclusion for their pupils.

 

FAQs

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How To Handle Children With ADHD In The Classroom

Students with ADHD may struggle to concentrate, listen attentively, or work hard on their assignments. It may also cause a student to get upset, anxious, talk excessively, or disturb the class. Children with ADHD may also experience difficulties attending school due to learning issues. Most children with ADHD begin schooling before receiving a diagnosis. Sometimes, teachers are the first ones to see potential symptoms of ADHD. They might discuss it with the parent of the youngster. Once ADHD has been ruled out, the parent can have the kids assessed by a medical professional.

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Compared to typical students, kids who suffer from attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) face additional challenges in their pursuit of success. Those diagnosed with ADHD may find it challenging to function successfully in school due to symptoms like inattention, restlessness, and trouble regulating impulses.

For this reason, individuals who work in school environments must understand how to modify assignments and the learning environment layout to accommodate students with ADHD or understand the importance of classroom interventions for autism. To successfully accommodate and adjust to the benefit of the students, teachers and support staff should be able to identify the symptoms of the disease, comprehend typical behaviors associated with ADHD, and offer acceptable accommodations.

Working With Children With ADHD

In daily life, ADHD affects social and cognitive performance. Someone who has been diagnosed with ADHD is prone to exhibit certain tendencies, like being impulsive. In this stage, they behave without thinking, cut off discussions, and show minimal to no fear. Another is hyperactivity, which includes excessive movement, constant fidgeting, and an inability to stay still. And lastly, the kids’ lack of focus and short attention span. Children with ADHD are easily distracted, which makes it difficult for them to focus on activities and classroom responsibilities. They also frequently switch between activities and projects, act like they can’t follow directions, and must be reminded.

Dealing with kids who have ADHD can be difficult on different occasions. It’s especially challenging in a learning environment because restlessness, the inability to stay still, and general inattentiveness are easily identifiable. It can be annoying when students display the classic symptoms of ADHD, which include impulsivity, hyperactivity, and inattention. They can’t concentrate on the content you’re trying hard to give, even though you know they have the intelligence. Additionally, their actions interrupt the class and take attention away from learning.

When working with students who have ADHD, most teachers encounter some of the following challenges:

  • Moving about the room or interrupting others to get their attention.
  • Suffering from difficulties understanding and executing instructions, particularly when given in a list or when performing tasks that call for a set of stages, such as lengthy mathematical equation solving.
  • Not remembering to turn in completed homework or to put assignments in writing.
  • Fine motor control could be better, which makes taking notes and reading handwriting challenging.
  • Encountering issues with extended projects without direct supervision.
  • Failing to contribute during group projects could prevent a group or entire team from completing its goal.

ADHD-affected kids frequently suffer from poor academic performance, criticism and repercussions, peer bullying, and a lack of self-esteem as a result of their issues. As a consequence of your inability to assist the student with ADHD, you, as the teacher, end up receiving complaints from parents who believe their children have been overlooked in the classroom, which makes you feel bad. However, things don’t need to be like this. But keep in mind that the best resource for assisting students with ADHD is a positive outlook.

You can utilize some techniques to support kids with ADHD in the classroom so they can perform academically, overcome difficulties with learning, and maintain focus without bothering other students.

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How To Handle Children With ADHD In The Classroom

Keep Expectations Consistent

Maintaining simple and straightforward classroom rules is one of the absolute most critical measures for students with ADHD. The expectations and rules for the learning environment should be reviewed frequently and revised as needed. The classroom should have clearly visible rules posted for students to see. To make sure they grasp the regulations, demands, expectations, or other instructions, it’s usually helpful to have younger children repeat them. Teachers should remember that a child might have heard what was stated but have yet to understand what it meant.

Use Tools and Flexible Rules

ADHD students frequently exhibit restlessness. While it may be the norm for children to remain seated in their assigned positions during class, allowing a child with ADHD to stand up could help them stay on task. Holding a small “squeeze ball” or something more tangible that can be played helps kids who typically fidget a little bit without disturbing the rest of the class. When you begin the lesson, let the students know precisely which materials and resources they’ll need and what they will be learning.

Educate Fellow Pupils

Teachers should inform the other students in the classroom about ADHD if one of the students has the disorder. It is important to present it in a favorable light to lessen the likelihood of bullying and abuse. Think of including the child in the explanation so they can describe it to other students. Children without ADHD may not comprehend what’s happening and may wonder why the person with mental health concerns is receiving special therapy. It’s critical that teachers and educators properly convey to non-ADHD pupils the value of having empathy for other learners and that they view this approach as support rather than a burden.

Limit Distractions

Children diagnosed with ADHD are easily distracted. Students with ADHD may benefit from being seated away from spaces like doorways and windows. They should be placed far from pencil sharpeners that might cause disruptions in the classroom. Try to keep any additional disturbances in the space to a minimum, such as loud noises or distracting objects. It might be beneficial for a child who struggles to cope with distractions to sit close to the front of the class, away from windows, and farther from the entryway. Establish a distraction-free, peaceful space for studying and taking tests.

Make Tasks Interactive

If at all feasible, make chores and activities participatory. Use whiteboards instead of workbooks wherever possible, and permit the use of coloring pens in place of pencils. To help them burn off some energy and give them a sense of importance in the classroom, ask the ADHD kids to distribute the whiteboards. In addition to having trouble staying still, a kid with ADHD may experience criticism and alienation from their peers. Consequently, promoting equitable participation in physical activities for all students in your class might be beneficial. This helps them reenergize and is especially helpful for kids who need to use up some energy.

Give Them a Break

Regular exercise and relaxation time might be helpful tactics for children with ADHD. Providing kids with ADHD with numerous opportunities to get up and move around the classroom can be quite beneficial since they are frequently having trouble sitting still for extended periods of time. They can do errands to the office or another area of the school, pick up or distribute documents or classroom supplies, or clean the board to give them a physical rest. Give some credit for completed work and accept late work. Don’t ask a kid with ADHD to complete an assignment or provide a public response to a topic that appears to be too challenging.

Don’t Overload Them

Dividing the whole workload into manageable portions can be beneficial for an ADHD child who is susceptible to feeling overwhelmed. Teachers can ensure their learners can handle the information by providing clear, simple instructions in one or two steps. When the students are most attentive and focused, try to schedule the most challenging academic courses and assignments for them. Make note-taking outlines that help you arrange the information as you present it. Having a key point summary and being clear about what needs to be taken home is critical. One by one, provide directions and then repeat them as needed.

Provide Frequent Feedback

Providing youngsters with brief feedback regarding their performance is another effective ADHD tactic. Feedback regarding specific behavior is beneficial for children, ADHD or not, and should be given often and immediately. Repercussions for undesired behavior should be applied quickly when appropriate. Give praise for positive behavior right away. It is advisable to overlook unpleasant behavior that is mild and non-disruptive. Consider having a private conversation with the children to clarify why their actions or behavior is inappropriate if it needs to be addressed. As usual, speak in a calm tone.

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Encourage Support

Although classroom assistants are not always accessible, children with ADHD may require additional support from them. It’s also possible that students with ADHD do not have access to academic assistance resources. In certain cases, setting up peer support can be beneficial even when a child receives one-on-one assistance from an adult in case the teacher is not available. Putting an eager, considerate, and responsible classmate in a relationship with a student who has ADHD can help both children.

Final Thoughts

Academic education, behavioral therapies, and classroom adjustments are the three pillars of an effective educational strategy for an ADHD child. In addition to profoundly impacting a child with ADHD, consistent application of these tactics will help improve the classroom as a whole. The class may benefit from teachers who use strategies to help ADHD kids concentrate and stay focused on the material and their work. The best action is for the parents, school, and healthcare practitioners to work closely to ensure the child receives the proper support.

 

FAQs

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Therapist Take On The Signs And Causes Of Learning Disability

In the general description, a learning disability is a brain condition that affects a student’s ability to receive, send, and process certain information. A child with a learning disability may experience problems in speaking, listening, writing, reading, and understanding mathematical functions and general comprehension.

Learning disability in children are not limited to a particular condition. It can include a group of mental illnesses, including dyspraxia, dyslexia, dysgraphia, and dyscalculia. Each type of this learning disability may co-exist with one another, and treatments may vary according to each of the condition’s severity.

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What Causes Learning Disabilities?

Experts believe that there is no specific cause for learning disability as it occurs depending on a child’s cognitive function. However, according to research, some factors can cause a learning disability. Some of the following include:

  • Heredity
  • Illness During And After Birth
  • Drug And Alcohol Consumption
  • Poor Nutrition
  • Physical Trauma
  • Poor Child Development Inside The Uterus
  • Low Birth Weight
  • Premature Or Prolonged Labor
  • Stress During Infancy
  • Increased Exposure To Toxins

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Does A Learning Disability Mean My Kid Is Less Intelligent Compared To Others?

No. A child who deals with a learning disability is not less intelligent than his peers. The condition only makes him process information slowly and somehow differently. The child with LD often requires a different approach and supplemental accommodations to encourage him to master significant classroom subjects and concepts.

Children with a learning disability are considerably at a higher risk for disruptive behavior disorder or attention problems. However, they are not exempted from potential success. Children with learning disabilities know they are special and need extra support. They know that smaller things are just worth so much more to them. Thus, a little accommodation is greatly valued.

Learning disability is not about the IQ average. Instead, it revolves around the child’s difficulty learning new things. Every new experience can be overwhelming and demanding, so they need assistance. But then again, it does not mean he can’t develop skills and learn new ideas. It takes time for the child to fully understand a concept.

If parents and teachers notice some unusual habit or behavior, it is a must to consult a specialist.

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Does Learning Disability Impacts Emotional Health?

Indeed it does. A child with a learning disability is often aware of their situation, which makes it more complicated to handle due to emotional distress. A kid who has problems understanding things around him may have emotional setbacks. When that happens, it might form another issue concerning mental health.

A learning disability, though a stand-alone condition, can often impact the emotional perception of the child. It may cause him to feel agitated when he can’t comprehend. It can increase the feeling of worthlessness in some instances. It can create disruptive emotions connecting to a child’s insecurity and sadness when seen as special.

What Are The Signs Of Learning Disabilities?

Children with learning disabilities often have trouble writing, reading, or performing basic tasks. They often have several related signs that do not go away easily and do not improve over time. The signs and symptoms also vary from one child to another. Most of them are common, but it does not mean that these signs are intended to screen the learning disability condition in general. One must still seek professional help or advice to get a proper diagnosis.

Common signs and symptoms of learning disability may include the following:

  • Problems with writing or reading
  • Inability to formulate ideas and concept
  • Hard time understanding words
  • Problems with mathematical numbers
  • Having a hard time listening
  • Poor sequencing and organization skills
  • Poor short-term and long-term memory
  • Inability to pay attention
  • Inability to follow several specific directions
  • Trouble telling time and schedules
  • Problems with dealing with changes
  • Inability to socially interact directly
  • Problems with recalling facts and situations
  • Trouble reading body language and facial expressions
  • Problems with communication
  • Inability To Gasp Or Continue Communication

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The child may experience some or all of these learning difficulties. And when these learning issues become a significant obstacle in daily life, the child may feel less confident. As he may begin to fall behind despite putting in a lot of effort, he will eventually develop emotional and mental health issues regarding his inabilities.

When a child continues to struggle despite his remediation attempts with one-on-one educational support, the child may require specialized intervention administered by a professional.

Is There A Cure For Learning Disorder?

Unfortunately, there is no cure for learning disabilities. However, many treatments and interventions can help a child to achieve success. These include personalized teaching and processing style, information presentation, and tailored academic structure. Some of these therapy treatments and professional assistance can be effective.

Final Thoughts

The secret to successful learning is proper treatment and academic coordination. The people surrounding the child with a learning disability should better understand the situation, promote patience, and encourage acceptance and awareness. It will help the child feel safe in life and can make him appreciate even the little achievements he makes.

 

Understanding Learning Disability Through Therapy Counseling

Before diving into the article, you must know that a learning disability differs from a learning difficulty. Learning disability is a condition that affects individuals’ perception of things and complicates every area of their lives. On the other hand, learning difficulty is described as a hindrance to a specific form of learning that does not influence the overall intellectual capacity of the individual.

Let’s Talk About Learning Disability

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What Is A Learning Disability?

Learning disability is a condition that affects the brain’s capacity to take in, store, and recall basic information. It affects all types of persons in several forms with varying levels of severity. Usually, a learning disability becomes noticeable as it interferes with basic learning skills such as writing, reading, time management, organization, and social communication skills.

Students with learning disabilities often experience problems with classroom interaction as they struggle with slow progress in understanding quality executive function, mathematics, problem-solving, planning and decision-making, and understanding social situations.

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Impacting Academic Development

The condition affects students differently as each individuals struggle across diverse academic settings and task difficulties. As an example in writing, students with LD may have difficulty organizing their written work or putting their thoughts into paper. Most of the time, they struggle with their handwriting, spelling, punctuation, and grammar. In reading, individuals with a learning disabilities often experience issues in reading fluently and may not comprehend what they read. They also struggle to recognize words or break them down into individual sounds.

In some cases, individuals with LD often care less about their achievement as they focus more on delayed learning development. They constantly have problem-solving issues and often have difficulty understanding visual-spatial relationships. Students with learning disabilities usually are unable to learn number facts. They struggle in computation and doing basic arithmetic calculations using signs and symbols.

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Impacting Social Life

Learning disability in children can also have a particular impact on social life. It can negatively impact one’s ability to make friends, dragging down self-esteem and increasing insecurities. They often deal with miscommunication as they struggle to interpret body language, read facial expressions, and recognize tones of voice.

Individuals with learning disability struggle with taking turns in conversation. They usually take all the time when talking, ask for repetition, or do not listen.

How To Know If A Person Has A Learning Disability?

It may seem easy to spot an individual with a learning disability and may interpret it as a learning difficulty. However, parents should be the ones to know if their child has LD. They are the ones who should recognize the potential signs and symptoms of the condition at an early stage.

However, the teacher may consult with them when the students are having difficulty in the classroom if in case parents are unable to notice the warning signs. Some of which include:

inability to distinguish letters, numbers, and sounds,

eye-hand coordination problems

short attention span,

difficulty following directions,

poor writing or reading ability,

poor memory,

disorganization and other sensory trouble

slow and inaccurate with sequencing

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What Can You Offer To A Person With A Learning Disability?

Despite the condition, people with learning disabilities are not entirely hopeless. Most of them can succeed, provided they have access to specific learning instructions and compensatory strategies that enable them to overcome difficulties.

A student or individual with a learning disability may receive a specific educational plan or IEP. The program caters to the individual’s needs and strengths. The results should be documented by a professional for further psychological assessment that can be used to regulate the progress and possible treatment.

In the classroom setting, teachers can motivate and help students with learning disabilities to focus on their specific areas of strength to create teachable moments to reinforce positive development. The educator can start in small steps and proceed to complicated ones if required. They can provide multiple examples to students and demonstrate solutions for challenging situations. They can offer feedback and praise as well as encourage practice.

Teachers can also provide cooperative learning for students with LD by creating a friendly classroom environment with the minimized competition. They can also encourage opportunities for shared learning and joint activities for improved social connection.

Aside from the specific educational plan, encouraging students with a learning disability to develop new skills and talents can also help. Making them feel appreciated and well-accepted for their community contributions greatly encourage students with disability to thrive more for success.

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Takeaway

It is essential to remember that every student is unique and requires specific learning needs. Thus, it is significant to ensure that the learning materials inside or outside the classroom should be accessible for students with learning disabilities. It will help if parents and teachers use differentiated strategies for more effective developmental results. They may also use the recommended accommodations and interventions set up with the help of a team of professionals.

Counseling Learners Who Have Special Needs

Counselors and therapists have always been a part of all types of educational institutions. For these professionals, the holistic development of students is the main priority.

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They help students with special needs realize their potential and grow in the best way they can. This task proves essential, ideally for unique high school learners with extraordinary needs at the crossroads of their future and career paths. But counseling can do more than guide teenage learners with particular needs when considering their future. Counseling can also help learners who are under special needs education programs and who have exceptional necessities.

Relevance Of Counseling For Kids With Particular Requirements/Benefits Of Counseling For Kids Requiring Mental Help

But what is the importance of counseling? Will it affect learners with conditions in exceptional education services? Before we can answer this question, we must first identify a child with different requirements now.

Professional Counselors Can Help Particular Children Who Have Problems And Disabilities

There are various types of children with disabilities and other requirements. The definition of unique needs pertaining to a child includes a wide variety of higher-level conditions, including physical ailments, learning difficulties or disabilities, and terminal illnesses. Learners may be unable to perform in school activities, like sports or simple reading exercises, due to their inherent particular necessities.

Here are just some examples of disabilities a child may have:

  • Anxiety disorder
  • Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
  • Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
  • Dyslexia, dyscalculia, down syndrome, and other learning disabilities
  • Hearing, visual, and other sensory impairment
  • Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD)
  • Physically disabled children
  • Speech and language disorders

Learners with unique requirements also include those with an advanced intellect. Talented and unique learners with special requirements often possess leadership, creativity, communication skills, idea, and intelligence well beyond what’s expected of their age. They often feel underwhelmed by the lack of challenge in their schools.

But children with mental, emotional, and physical disabilities aren’t the only kinds of learners with exceptional educational requirements. Those who are at a disadvantage or have a harder time learning because their brains cannot take it are also unique learners who have certain necessities.

Now, and especially during the pandemic, special education and health continues to be exceptional and a privilege.

Learners who have particular educational requirements need superior connectivity to the internet to join classes and find resources. They should also have at least one gadget of their own to submit class requirements on their school and education. Different instructional strategies should also be used for students with educational requirements.

Moreover,  students with disabilities face special point challenges and require additional support from their particular education teacher as well as their parents in order to achieve success and participation. In order to provide students with disability with the best possible education, schools must create a curriculum that is tailored to attend to their individual essentials while also allowing them to access mainstream educational opportunities with typically developing learners. An important aspect of this is providing these children with peers who can offer them support and understanding.

Private and public schools and particular educators must also ensure that students with special needs have access to the best technology and accommodations available in order to fully participate in their educational environment and that they can learn things easily.

A girl having her online classes and using computer.
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While these problems may be difficult to solve, their consequences can be controlled. Luckily, counselors can help with most of these issues. Now, let’s talk about the benefits counseling gives.

Counseling For The Needs of Differently Abled Learners

First, counseling can help in identifying students that need exceptional education. With their background, they can pick up on actions and social cues signaling a student’s difficulty integrating with a group as part of their online group therapy.

For example, children with learning disabilities may look as if they’re the same way as other ordinary kids. Individuals with disabilities may only begin to show signs of their specific learning disabilities or intellectual disabilities when reading, writing, or solving problems. So, while they may seem well-adjusted at first, students with learning disabilities who need special education may progress slower in time.

Children who have developmental expressive language disorder (DELD) also often have difficulty expressing their thoughts and emotions.

Because of this, they may need special education services. Fortunately, they can learn about and develop thought processes and expression. Counseling can help children with DELD to learn how to express themselves better.

Students with disabilities often require ideally designed instruction, materials, and adapted equipment to achieve success in handling ADHD in the classroom setting and address learning differences. The term special education services are tailored to meet the varying degrees of learning requirements of students with disabilities and involve specially designed instruction, parent training, and other support services.

In addition to special education services, parents of children with developmental delays play an important role in helping the community succeed in school and beyond. Parent training provision programs provide parents with research-backed strategies to better understand their child’s disability and how to help them succeed academically.

Another example would be children having physical disabilities. While their conditions aren’t limitations themselves, they can still hinder them from socializing in fear of being different. This fear may be hard to identify, specifically, if a child is already very reserved.

Additionally, certain students with advanced talents and intelligence may feel underwhelmed. This feeling can then lead to demotivation as they continue to yearn for more challenging activities. Studies also show how this demotivation can then result in underachieving and underdeveloped children.

Luckily, a counselor can identify these challenges in children with disabilities. Identifying problems may only be the first step, but it’s essential in helping children with particular educational requirements.

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Once counselors identify which students have disabilities and which essentials they require, they can start working on these limitations.

For special students having learning disabilities, counselors can help them slowly learn techniques to make academic requirements bearable.

Counseling can help them improve their time management and organization skills. They can also help special learners create study habits fitting to their inherent limitations.

On the other hand, counselors can also design exceptional education programs for specially disabled students. During counseling, counselors can also evaluate the benefits and detriments of their SPED programs. Special education programs may include these changes:

  • Assistive learning devices
  • Educational and psychological assessments
  • Modified learning environment

Thus, pupils can learn the same lessons as their classmates, thanks to new teaching methods of special education teachers that consider their limitations.

All of this development usually happens during one-on-one sessions with a counselor. However, counseling can also be done by the group.

During such sessions, students who have special needs can improve their social, communication, and other interpersonal skills. They can also build friendships in small counseling groups. Learners having particular needs can then rely on this newly-found relationship for support, even after counseling ends.

Lastly, counseling can help learners who have demands under special education act idea gain self-confidence. Counselors can also help these children learn more about their respective conditions.

One of the hot discussions for the disabled community is the Identity-first language. The identity-first language movement aims to break any stigma or negative connotations previously associated with terms such as “disabled” or “autistic.” This movement thus promotes the use of such terms when describing a disabled person.

On the other hand, some people prefer the person-first language. This movement, on the other hand, seeks to recognize people first before their disabilities.

But at the end of the day, the child in question deserves to decide how they want to be referred to. Counseling can thus help children discover their strengths and weaknesses. With the proper disabilities education act about their limitations, children can learn to accept their condition and build an identity from there.

counselors in the school setting do more than just talking
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In conclusion, counselors in the school setting do more than just talk to learners in detention or help the soon-to-be-graduates transition. But also, counselors help the disabled, marginalized, and limited children. It is important to provide individuals with disabilities education because it is their right as well.

Counselors In Schools Do More To Help The Disabled, Marginalized, and Students Who Have Particular Requirements

Schools across the country are committed to providing inclusion for learners with special needs. Every school office focus and caters to the needs that have to be addressed so these educated learners receive services with the rigorous and comprehensive education they deserve.

It does so by identifying problems early on, even for those learners with seemingly hidden disabilities. After this first step, counselors can then speak and help these children work on their weaknesses and limitations. Most importantly, counseling helps special students with special needs finally embrace their inherent disabilities and build their own strong identities.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you deal with learners who have special needs?

What is a person with special needs?

What are the 4 types of special needs?

How can you help a person with special requirements?

How can teachers help learners with disabilities?

What are important qualities you should have if you want to effectively teach learners with special requirements?

What are the most significant roles of a special needs teacher?

Why do you need more effort and patience in dealing with special needs learners?

Are special needs categorized as a disability?

What are the most challenging obstacles for a child who has special needs?

What are the goals and objectives of learners who have special needs?

What is the importance of special needs education?

What are the five ideas for handling special learners?

Why is it important to support children who have special requirements?

What are special needs in learning?

 

What Does It Take To Be A Special Education Counselor?

Learning is not an easy process. Every child has the right to learn everything they need to be successful in life. And as educators, you are primarily tasked to hone the skills and talents of your pupils. You should recognize how each student has different characteristics, making them unique. Some may excel better than others in most areas, while some may take time to figure out where they do great.

Some children may also have specific learning disabilities. These hinder them from achieving their true potential. These children also may have difficulties honing their skills and adjusting to certain situations. If you do not address these at an early age,  they may have problems in their social and emotional functioning in the future.

This is why children with special needs must receive special education. A special education counselor ensures that their special needs are met so they can perform better in school. Read further to know what it takes to be a special education counselor.

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What Is Special Education Counseling?

Special education counseling is considered a specialization of school counseling. This branch is particularly concerned with aiding students with special needs. Children under this category may have learning disabilities. They may have mental retardation, which causes them to develop more slowly than other children. Some may also have speech and language impairment, making them unable to express themselves.  Other children may have physical disabilities. They may have vision problems, an underdeveloped body, or other conditions.

The main goal of this type of counseling is to provide them access to intervention programs. These programs place children in a curriculum tailored to their learning ability. For instance, if the child has visual difficulties, teaching sessions may emphasize touch and sensations.

Special education counseling provides assistance and support to their families as well. For instance, counselors can teach parents important strategies in managing their children’s needs.

Most importantly, counseling also helps children achieve important milestones in a school environment. It helps with their academic and intellectual growth. This counseling is also concerned with improving their ability to function socially and emotionally.

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Roles Of A Special Education Counselor

Special education counselors must be aware of their student’s individual needs. They should be able to help them achieve their full potential. As a special education counselor, you need to help them receive individualized education programs (IEP). Children who received IEP can quickly adjust to certain situations. In this case, introducing them to this program at an early age is vital. It can make a lot of difference in their academic learning and emotional health. 

Special education classes can also be diverse. It is crucial to know each child’s weaknesses and strengths. So, you can equally advocate for these children. To be a good special education counselor, you need to fulfill these roles:

  • Perform counseling sessions with special education students
  • Encourage the family to be involved in the child’s IEP
  • Collaborate with other school staff to make adaptations and modifications based on your student’s needs
  • Collaborate with other professionals such as therapists to ensure a holistic approach in teaching
  • Assess and identify students who can be eligible for special education

Special education counselors ensure that their students’ needs are primarily met. They can also refer families to outside resources if they have to. These may include family counselors, vocational trainers, and other non-profit organizations.

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Should You Become A Special Education Counselor

Before you become a special education counselor, you need to consider the job outlook for this profession. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the job outlook for special education counselors is good. There is an estimated 8 percent growth in this type of work. This growth is not expected to slow down in this early part of the decade. 

The local spending for special education also increases for different states in the US. Among these states include New Hampshire, Hawaii, Connecticut, and New York.

Another thing you need to consider is the compensation you may get as a special education counselor. As of May 2019, the BLS estimates that these counselors earn an average of  $61,000 a year. However, wages may still vary depending on your educational level and years of service.

And lastly, you should determine if you have a passion for teaching. As a special education counselor, teaching could be extremely difficult. And the process may also be tedious. You need to have a lot of patience and perseverance to help your students grow. 

A special education counselor also primarily needs to be a skilled communicator. They will not only converse with their students. But they also need to consult with parents and other faculties frequently. You will have to provide reports about your student’s progress and their problems in school. Your counselor must have superior organizational skills because they will have so many files to handle.

Whatever your reason for pursuing this career, always remember that it is all about your students. It is all about special needs children and their right to quality education.

What Is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy CBT

What is cognitive behavioral therapy? It falls under a broader set of mental health therapies that may include rational emotive behavioral therapy or psychodynamic therapy. They recognize that changing our thoughts and behavioral patterns helps us deal with specific problems and through the help of a licensed mental health professional, learn some coping skills, problem-solving skills, and cognitive and behavioral strategies to improve one’s mental health as well as emotional health.

Cognitive behavioral therapy is one of the few other forms of behavioral therapy that has been scientifically validated and proven to effectively treat post-traumatic stress disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. It is an evidence-based psychological treatment that requires a few sessions to help eliminate a person’s negative thoughts and emotional difficulties. It boasts more than 300 scientific studies. It’s one of the most effective therapeutic approaches for managing mood disorders, psychological distress, fears, anxiety disorders, eating disorders, and many psychological problems and mental illnesses.

Man talking with mental health professional about his problems. What is cognitive behavioral therapy?
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The core principles of cognitive behavioral therapy date back to Aaron Beck, a 20th-century American psychiatrist. While working in sessions with people who suffered from depression, Beck noticed that they commonly held negative emotions and thought patterns, often as reactions to challenging situations in their life. He saw that these symptoms were deeply interconnected with their thoughts and feelings.

Beck believed that thoughts, feelings, and actions are closely linked. He emphasized the need for the right intervention, such as cognitive behavioral interventions, to help individuals find ways to change inaccurate thinking, problematic conduct, and distressing behavioral responses.

What Is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Approach?

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a therapeutic approach that aims to identify and modify behavior patterns and learned patterns of thinking that contribute to a mental health condition. CBT can be used to treat a variety of issues, including bipolar disorder and post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Apart from CBT, treatments such as exposure therapy, prescribed medications, and stress management techniques are also beneficial. Health insurance often covers CBT sessions as it recognizes its efficacy in addressing a range of medical conditions, including substance use disorders and other mental health conditions that can impact daily life.

How many sessions are required for CBT varies depending on the particular situation. Still, it generally involves regular meetings with a therapist to work on modifying negative thought patterns and developing coping strategies for challenges like post traumatic stress.

And yet many still ask – what is cognitive behavior therapy? A CBT treatment that follows through with the premise above. Although our problems come from the past, they are sustained by things in the present. To treat this, people should target the present and address the unhelpful ways to reassess symptoms of negative thoughts.

In doing so, individuals can learn to be flexible and clinical practice positive ways of thinking. This consequently influences actions and conduct.

Note that CBT is different from traditional talk therapy. So what is cognitive behavioral therapy exactly? It doesn’t focus entirely on the past. Instead, the psychological therapy sessions engage in a more problem-solving type of orientation where the healthcare provider or the cognitive behavioral expert helps the patient deal with his psychological issues and emotional challenges through CBT techniques and coping strategies.

Here, the therapist and patient work together to identify and replace current distorted thoughts and beliefs. This, in turn, targets their negative moods and counterproductive or self-sabotaging behavior or unhelpful behavior.

Learn The Techniques That Are Used In CBT And Ways To Apply Them To Yourself

What is cognitive behavioral therapy? It is useful in treating a wide range of mental health disorders. If you suffer from procrastination, you can try activity scheduling or set simple goals. Maintaining a journal can help those with anxiety and depression. It also uses breathing and mindfulness exercises to promote relaxation and reduce stress.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a short-term therapy or psychotherapy that can be used alone or in combination with other therapies. In CBT, clients learn to identify and modify negative thought patterns and behaviors that impact their daily life. During the first appointment or first session, the therapist will work with the client to develop a treatment plan that addresses their specific needs. Clients are encouraged to be active participants in therapy and may be given homework assignments to practice new skills and self-talk outside of sessions.

CBT is an effective tool for managing challenging situations and can involve family members if needed. With the help of a CBT therapist, clients can learn to identify and change their negative thinking patterns, leading to a more positive outlook on life.

Goals and Techniques Of CBT That One Should Know

CBT’s primary goal, stemming from its cognitive behavioural foundations, is to equip you with tools to identify and replace harmful or irrational thoughts, allowing you to respond to setbacks like depression, anxiety, and even stress disorder more effectively. Achieving this becomes feasible by working with a therapist trained in restructuring and guided research discovery.

Traumatic stress and obsessive compulsive behaviors can be particularly challenging, but CBT provides a pathway to understanding and managing such conditions. Ultimately, CBT aims to educate patients to become their therapists, facilitating a deeper understanding of their thought patterns and behaviors in their life’s broader context.

One can also adopt self-help measures through techniques like journaling and mindful breathing exercises, which are especially beneficial for those grappling with anxiety or intrusive thoughts.

According to clinical psychology experts, CBT doesn’t merely dwell on past experiences. Instead, it zeroes in on current thoughts, feelings, and actions, emphasizing the identification and correction of harmful thoughts that might unknowingly shape one’s emotions and behaviors.

Cognitive Behavior Therapy Key Concepts

CBT analyzes intricate connections between a person’s thoughts, feelings, and conduct in a diagram known as a cognitive triangle. Proponents argue that emotional distress and self-destructive behaviors are often the results of a misguided way of thinking about a situation.

So, CBT focuses on identifying and replacing these thoughts to help you build practical self-help skills to help you keep moving forward.

4 Steps Of Cognitive Restructuring

Many studies note that the first step in cognitive restructuring is paying attention to your thoughts. Once you become aware of these thought patterns, you can assess whether they are harmful or unproductive.

Three Main Goals In Cognitive Behavior Therapy

The first goal of CBT is to address a person’s immediate problems by replacing cognitive distortions. The second goal is to build a solid foundation that allows you to respond more compassionately when you face a similar situation someday.

Over time, CBT aims to rewire how you think by restructuring cognitive patterns. Patterns that will affect your decision-making, relationships, trauma responses, and a lot more life aspects.

Can I Teach Myself CBT And Can I Do It Alone?

Yes. Journaling is an effective way to identify thought patterns that may unknowingly influence your emotions and behavior. When you write down your thoughts and feelings regularly, it’s possible to recognize and reframe cognitive distortions. You can also look for courses on how to do self-CBT online or join web-based groups.

Techniques That Are Used In Humanistic Therapy

Since humanistic therapy advocates for unconditional self-acceptance, this kind of treatment focuses on helping you build a strong sense of self. In most sessions, your therapist will actively listen as you describe your lived experience. They may use role-playing or reenactments to help you come to terms with a problem.

Techniques Of CBT

For people with anxiety disorders, behavioral experiments might be useful. In this case, you will need to complete a task that makes you anxious. Afterward, you will sit down with your therapist and discuss whether the worst-case scenario you envisioned took place.

What is cognitive behavioral therapy?

If you have social anxiety, your therapist will help you identify some cognitive distortions you may have formed about interacting with other people. If they trace it to a traumatic or unpleasant experience, they will give you tools to think about the situation more healthily and compassionately.

They can also help you improve your communication and social skills through behavioral experiments.

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What is CBT for anxiety?

CBT is a common approach to treating anxiety, which is often driven by irrational thoughts. By breaking down a problem into ideas, feelings, and behaviors, a person with anxiety can examine how their thoughts play into how they feel and act.

In doing so, they are in a better place to identify and hopefully replace cognitive distortions with more helpful and grounded ways of thinking.

What Are The Common Cognitive Distortions That We Might Encounter More Than We Know?

Overgeneralizations, all-or-nothing thinking, jumping to conclusions, and catastrophizing are common cognitive distortions. When you focus solely on the negative aspect of a message or discount the positive, that’s also a distortion.

Expecting the world to operate fairly or things to fall into place all the time is another irrational way of thinking.

What happens in CBT?

During a CBT session, you can share a problem with your therapist, who will help you break it down into three distinct components. He or she will help you examine your thoughts and how they may be producing unwanted outcomes in the form of emotional consequences or self-destructive behaviors.

They will also teach you how to build healthier coping mechanisms. As part of your treatment, you may have to complete assignments or worksheets.

What is the difference between cognitive therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy?

CBT examines the relationship between cognitive distortions and behavior, which places a more significant premium on a person’s mental and emotional state. By combining CBT, it becomes a more holistic approach.

What is the cognitive triangle?

The cognitive triangle explains the complex interaction between an individual’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. The diagram shows that it’s possible to influence one component by changing the other. For instance, by tweaking your thoughts, it’s possible to lift your mood and even change your behavior.

What Are The Benefits Of Breathing Techniques And How Does It Work?

Deep breathing is a highly effective way to reduce stress. It sends a message to your body to calm down and lowers your heart rate and blood pressure. Practicing mindful breathing for five minutes three times a day can improve your stress response.

The Takeaway

A woman wearing a white button down shirt and jeans sits on the couch while writing he research in a notebook about "What is cognitive behavioral therapy?"
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So What Is CBT?

Behind each person’s action, be it trivial or significant, is a complex cognitive process. And some people may develop negative thinking patterns, which subsequently trigger other health problems.

One benefit is that it helps you recognize negative thoughts. It also provides ways to change them. The end goal is to address psychological and personality problems. It’s anchored on the recognition that thoughts and perceptions affect our feelings and behavior.

This is a treatment option for a variety of mental disorders or problems. The treatment is most commonly used for people with depression and anxiety. It can also help with Alzheimer’s disease, ADHD, panic disorder, eating disorder, OCD, and PTSD.

It can also work for people with anger management problems and treat insomnia. Sometimes, it’s used as a complementary treatment for patients suffering from other chronic pain conditions and difficult situations.

This form of treatment is typically done in a therapist’s office. A trained therapist works with clients in either individual or group sessions.

There are also several techniques for administering psychiatric medications and treatment. Some techniques include validity testing, cognitive rehearsal, journaling, and guided discovery. The therapist helps clients learn and develop skills that help them reassess negative thoughts on their own.

It also takes a shorter time to accomplish compared to traditional talk therapy. It takes as few as 6 sessions for some people to achieve goals. However, keep in mind that results vary from person to person. For people with more long-standing problems, a couple of weeks or months may be adequate to address needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

 

  1. When Is CBT Not Beneficial?

  2. When Is CBT Dangerous To Use?

  3. How does CBT work for depression and anxiety problems?
  4. How does CBT work step by step?
  5. How long does it take for CBT to work and is it worth the try?
  6. What are the uses of CBT?
  7. What does CBT attempt to do?
  8. What are the primary and several core principles of CBT?
  9. What are the common boundaries of CBT?
  10. What makes cognitive behavioral therapy effective?
  11. What techniques do CBT therapists use?
  12. What does cognitive Behavioural therapy do?
  13. What is an example of cognitive behavioral therapy?
  14. What is cognitive therapy in simple terms?
  15. What are the 5 components of CBT?

Learning Disability In Kids

Children’s learning disability may seem normal to everybody. Most children with particular learning problems appear to have a higher risk of developing additional mental health issues. These children also get a diagnosis of depression and anxiety. Why is that? Let us move closer to some of the reasons why learning disorders often get connected with mental illness and other related disorders.

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It Makes Children Believe That Isolation Is The Best Option

If you have not noticed, the majority of children with a learning disability are often unapproachable compared to those with above-average intelligence. It is not because they are naturally irritable or something but because they are anxious about everything. There is this mentality that when people figure out that they have types of learning problems, these kids quickly feel uneasy. They get scared of criticism and judgment. They become afraid to be around people because somehow they know they will become the center of unfortunate events and suffer from economic disadvantages. So, for them to be able to protect themselves from emotional disturbance or physical harm, they tend to isolate themselves. Sadly, these kids can only cling to nonverbal cues of isolation because they understand how mean and unreasonable most people can be. The emotional and mental torture that others give these kids makes them embrace the entirety of being alone as they focus on paying attention to themselves.

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It Becomes The Primary Reason For Bullying

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For those kids with a learning disability, everyday social interaction is a struggle. There is too much verbal, emotional, and mental harassment that these kids or people with learning disabilities (reading, language, motor skills, specific learning, and writing) face every day from other people. There is always the risk of getting bullied by other kids because of their intellectual, physical, or fine motor skills, poor coordination, and mental incapacity. There is a vast amount of pressure that these kids have to endure only to avoid getting harmed. Of course, you can rest assured them that not all people they meet at school or in the neighborhood are like that. There are still a couple of individuals who are more than willing to be friends with them despite their obvious differences from others. However, these kids with a specific learning disability are sensitive enough to excuse the act of bullying. They will never see it as anything positive but an action that always intends to harm them physically, emotionally, and mentally.

It Makes Children Force To Hide Their Feelings

The saddest part of dealing with kids’ emotional dilemmas is the incapability of knowing where and what hurts them. Most of the time, it seems pretty easy to identify why children feel sad and lonely. However, with the presence of specific learning disabilities, kids are often untrue with their feelings. They will tell you that everything is okay, even if you know it isn’t. They try to make faces and laugh at themselves only to avoid the harshness of other people’s comments about their disorder. In some unfortunate situations, they lie to themselves only to stay out of the public’s eyes. But deep inside, these kids emotionally suffer, and they require appropriate support. They often wonder why they tend to be more unusual than others. You may not hear them ask or complain about it. But somehow, they knew they were different compared to the majority of kids around them. It is just that they feel embarrassed to tell the world that they are somehow struggling so hard to do things that are quite easy for others.

Secure your kids' mental health. Understand their struggle.
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It Makes Them Think That They Are Undeserving

According to disease control experts, a specific learning disability in children impacts a lot of aspects. There is a struggle with social interaction as some children might have a hearing or visual problem. Then, there is also the intellectual incapacity that often results in slow comprehension. Also, there is a kid’s behavior issue that probably comes from an overall deterioration of the kid’s well-being that requires early intervention. With that said, these unfortunate things that take a portion of kids’ lives make them feel undeserving. They seem to view their disability as a valid reason for their unworthiness. That mentality becomes excruciating and deteriorating because it gets accompanied by embarrassment and humiliation. It makes children feel bad about themselves for not being able to act normal like the others. And over time, emotional and mental torture takes away the children’s motivation to self-love and self-improve.

Parents should understand the struggle of learning disability in kids. They should look for ways to help the kids with their overall wellness.
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Learning Disability in Kids – Final Thought

Children are way too unpredictable. They act on things based on their judgments, and sometimes, they forget to incorporate logic into their response. You can’t blame them, though, because it is their nature.  But with those kids with a learning disability, everything about their words and actions needs a definite moment. Expressing themselves and learning basic skills would need time so they can think about what they are about to say. There is the pressure of wanting to be normal and not being laughed at.

It is unfortunate that most people do not genuinely want to talk about children’s learning disabilities. But if you know someone struggling with the condition, please make him or her feel that the symptoms of learning disabilities are not a thing that defines them. Please assure the kids that being different is entirely okay and spend time paying attention to their needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top 5 learning disabilities?

What are the signs and symptoms of a child with a learning disability?

What are the 7 main types of learning disabilities?

What is the most common learning disability in kids?

Is ADHD considered a learning disability?

Can ADHD cause a learning disability?

What are the 4 major types of learning disabilities?

What can cause a learning disability?

Is Autism a learning disability?

What is the difference between a learning disability and ADHD?

What learning disabilities are common with ADHD?

What causes a slow learning disability?

What is the most severe learning disability?

What are 3 known causes of learning disabilities?

What are 3 conditions associated with learning disabilities?

Helping A Family Understand The Common Types Of Learning Disabilities

Unfortunately, learning disabilities are pretty common. In the United States alone, about 15% of individuals struggle with some of a diagnosable form of learning disability. There are different types of learning disabilities. Some are easy to recognize, while others tend to be complicated. These complicated ones often confuse parents because of the various terms that are thrown around the condition. But with regard to the general public’s situation, there are three officially and commonly recognized learning disabilities. Let’s take a look at those.

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Reading Disability

One of the three common disabilities that the majority of people encounter is the reading disability or also known as a reading disorder. Sometimes, it gets categorized as dyslexia, depending on the particular present characteristics that individuals have. It is a condition where individuals have difficulty learning numbers and letters. Sometimes, it gets associated with the difficulty in learning letter and its sound correspondence. An example of this is when individuals know what a particular letter is, but happen to pronounce it in a different sound. Also, another part of the reading disability is the blending of sounds. It connects to the possible problem of the brain, specifically the phonological memory. It is the process of the mind that stores sound information.

As you can see, reading disability is a condition related to the slow process of the brain. It is a mental development issue that leads to problems reading, not just a single word, but almost all of it. That is because individuals with a reading disability do not have automatic processing that typical readers have. It tends to extend into cognitive issues such as damaged reading comprehension. It can result in individuals not understanding thoughts and ideas from paragraphs and full sentences. It becomes impossible for people to get through different texts, put every word together, and derive meaning.

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Math Learning Disability

A math learning disability, also known as dyscalculia and math dyslexia, relates to the difficulty processing numerical information. Usually, people look at is as a normal thing. There is an assumption that individuals struggling with math only need time and more practice to progress. However, math disability is not just about a slow process of numbers but also the difficulty of learning mathematical facts. Individuals with this disability are often weak in mental arithmetic skills, slow in performing basic calculations, struggle in fixing vital analytical concepts, and suffer from a poor sense of estimations.

For people with a math disability, addition is their default operation. They have difficulty counting numbers backward, and they do not understand place values. Usually, the symptoms become noticeable when individuals find it mentally and emotionally exhausting to understand different kinds of number-related problems. They experience high levels of mathematical stress, which leads to other mental health issues such as depression and anxiety. Unfortunately, there is no solution for this condition. Math learning disability is not a phase that people can outgrow.

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Writing Disability

Writing disability is also one of the common disabilities that the majority of people encounter. It is known as a disorder of written expression and sometimes called dysgraphia. Though it is often known to many as a mild category, writing disability has quite a bit of variability. One is the difficulty with the act of writing. It is where individuals find it hard to make necessary writing hand strokes and movements. It often relates to those people who either cannot seem to write in bold or cursive letters. Also, individuals with this disability struggle with forming numbers and letters.

But in general, writing disability is the individuals’ incompetency to get their thoughts down on paper. As it progresses, it becomes a whole different level of struggle in understanding the mechanics of writing, such as spelling, punctuation, and capitalization. Another thing that associates with the disability is the problem with content writing. Unfortunately, individuals with this type of disability who might have thoughts and ideas in their brains find it difficult to organize words. And as the condition worsens, these people are unable to express themselves better in written and oral communication.

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Insight

These three types of disability might seem to be the most common ones, but there are also other learning disabilities that the family should take note of. These are not necessarily classified formally, but the individuals, particularly children, usually have it. Families should watch out for executive malfunction. These difficulties affect individuals’ functions such as arithmetic abilities, gross motor skills, visual-spatial skills, and global processing of information. Also, it is a category of disability where individuals struggle with the set of skills that involve generating strategies to solve problems, make decisions, and create better judgments. Executive malfunction also affects impulse control and emotional and behavioral regulation. People suffer from this type of difficulty for many different reasons. And though it is not formally classified, it certainly affects individuals’ ability to learn.

An Education Crisis Turned Into Opportunity

Governments around the world have temporarily shut down schools and universities to contain the spread of COVID-19. In an unprecedented turn, our educational institutions saw the need to bring out their crisis management experts – yet no one could have predicted the scale and impact of this pandemic.

In these challenging times, we are presented with tools, resources, and tips online and offline. But how do we find those that work?

UNICEF estimates that some of the world’s 1.5 billion students, which includes primary, secondary and tertiary students, will not go to school physically. Given the current state of our classrooms and learning establishments, social distancing as part of the “new normal” makes it almost impossible to follow.

Source: wikimedia.org

The in-person schooling experience is irreplaceable but school systems can still engage students in meaningful and productive ways online. Digital technologies offer a variety of capabilities for remote learning.

Unfortunately, there is a considerable disparity in universal access to high-speed broadband or electronic devices necessary to deploy online learning, the most critical being the teacher’s ability to provide distance learning.

Remote Teaching

If there is one lesson that educators need to learn from COVID-19, that crisis always offers opportunities. The structures that we have been operating with before the coronavirus era has begun to show immense gaps. For lecturers, the lack of professional development and training resources have resulted in inefficient work, which has added to the pressure of coping with the disease in the first place.

How can educators take advantage of online learning? In 2008, two authors coined the term Massively Open Online Courses or MOOCs to illustrate the theory of connectivity knowledge. They wanted to explore how interactions between a wide variety of participants can be made possible by online tools to improve and contribute to a more productive learning environment than the traditional setup.

“Teacher professional development represents a conundrum that perfectly encapsulates the systematic problem with education that we have as a society,” said Dr. Justin Marquis, Ph.D., Director of Curriculum and Instruction at Gonzaga University. “We expect teachers to not only be well trained initially, but to also be responsible for continually renewing their knowledge and skills.”

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As if it wasn’t already a burden, teachers now need to acknowledge their skills gap in working remotely from students. Fortunately, this gives them more time to consider their careers and how to upskill using available online tools. Marquis cites several factors that make MOOCs a perfect option for ongoing teacher professional development.

  • Free – Unless it’s a privately held institution, it’s well-known that the government budget for the educational system is lacking. Administrators and school boards should maximize low-cost options for professional development with a wide array of choices.
  • Flexible – Online education provides flexibility in time and location. Since most teachers work long days at school that leaves little time to rest, taking courses to fit their schedule is now possible through on-demand learning.
  • Adaptable – Most education technology platforms are based on US and UK models, making them world-class. Teachers can choose which philosophies to adapt to their individual needs, as well as comparing content across different universities.
  • Teachable – Teachers who are motivated to keep their professional credentials active understand how learning works. MOOCs are suited for educators who are qualified to adjust the content and the process to meet their needs.

Teach Better By Learning

In a Harvard Business Review study, 52% of the Coursera course completers surveyed reported they took the course to improve their current job or to find a new job. Instead of educational benefits, MOOCs appear to be more effective in delivering courses that aid in career development. Other platforms like Udemy, Udacity, and Khan Academy also provide useful resources for professional improvement.

Before COVID-19, administrators evaluated teachers based on their classroom management techniques and lecture style. School administrators focused on improving physical facilities and upgrading to the latest technology software. Now that almost everything has moved online, how do we measure effectiveness in teaching?

Parents who used to think that homeschooling was ineffective are now experiencing some aspects of it as they assume a teacher support role in the home. After weeks or months of isolation, a lot of us will have experienced losing family and friends to the virus, opportunities to gather and socialize, as well as some resources and health caused by stress.

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It’s become clear that teachers offer more than delivering lessons in the classroom. At a crisis where many young people struggle to stay well and remain focused, being a source of encouragement and motivation is needed in coping. Teachers who apply what they learn about themselves and through professional development become better educators, and therefore pillars of support.