For a child to thrive, they must experience consistent care and love from nurturing caregivers. The support and security provided by the caregivers give the child self-confidence and resilience to effectively cope with everyday stress. For children to develop physical, emotionally and socially they need to interact with other people, therefore, learning how to cope with minor stresses prepares them on how to handle significant stressors from external factors. However, certain factors may challenge a child's normal ability to cope with stress: disability is one of those factors. Children with special needs refer to those with different disabilities harboring their normal day-to-day activities. Disability interferes with a child's normal physical, emotional and social development. For instance, a child with disability cannot participate in normal activities at the right age (Paasche & Gorrill, 2004).
Based on research, children with special needs bring forth heightened stress, tension, and concern within their families (Paasche & Gorrill, 2004).This becomes even harder for their caregivers to take care of them as some disorders are very complex in nature. Much worse some of the disabilities are expensive to treat making the children suffer in the hands of their families who are not able to get the best medical treatments. Children with disabilities are a special group in the society they need care, love, support and special treatments. For children with special needs to be able to bounce back and cope effectively in the society despite their surrounding adversities, they need social resources, effective intervention programs, and support services for parents, family and friends (Paasche & Gorrill, 2004).
Actions that can address the Issue of Children with Special Needs and their Impact
As a human services professional, it is upon me to ensure that children with special needs live in safe homes, and receive all their basic needs. Considering the everyday challenges children with disabilities have, certain actions should be taken to facilitate their bouncing back to society (Groark, 2011). I would find the best rehabilitation services to help the children in recovering and adapting to their disability. Rehabilitation services act as schools where the children will find it easier accepting their conditions, interact with other children with similar needs and receive the right treatments (Groark, 2011). For the school going children, I would find the right schools for them. Education is a basic need and children with special needs can acquire education just like the others. Finding the right schools for them based on their disabilities is a good ground to help them in accepting their disabilities and sharpening on their abilities (Groark, 2011). For those in critical condition, I would refer personal care services to help them cope with their everyday activities. Personal care workers are trained on how to handle children with different needs with the needed professionalism (Groark, 2011).
Challenges in Addressing Children with Special Needs
As much as these actions are effective, they may not be easier to implement because of some challenges. Rehabilitation services are very expensive; some families may not afford the rehabilitation fees making it harder for the children to receive the required treatments (Groark, 2011). In such a case I may be needed to look for financial help from well-wishers or fund the children myself. Some schools may lack certain equipment and facilities needed to facilitate the normal learning process of children with certain conditions. Schools for children with special needs that are fully equipped are very few, and this may force some children to settle for other options which may not be well equipped. Personal care givers are professionals who are well trained, however, in some cases, some children may resist them, in this case, it may be harder for them to receive the help they offer (Groark, 2011).Children with special needs are a very important unit in the society, once treated with care, love and respect they can clearly prove that disability is not inability.
References
Groark, C. J. (2011). Early childhood intervention: Shaping the future for children with special needs and their families. Santa Barbara, Calif: Praeger.
Paasche, C. L., Gorrill, L., & Strom, B. (2004). Children with special needs in early childhood settings. Clifton Park, NY: Thomson/Delmar Learning.
