Special Education Needs Causing Financial Crisis in California Schools
Now, I am all for special education for children with disabilities. I attended school at a time when such children were either put into “special” schools or thrown in with the general student population to sink or swim on their own. It was a terrible inequity. It finally was addressed in the 1970s with a law designed to correct such discrimination by giving these children the civil right to an equal opportunity to learn. The law covered children from birth to age 22, guaranteeing them the right to a free and “appropriate” public education. It is the ambiguous word “appropriate” written into the law that is creating a crisis for the California schools, according to Nanette Asimov, staff writer for the San Francisco Chronicle.
The article cited a situation of one California schools child with a disability. The assigned public middle school offered special college prep classes, daily help from a special education expert, a laptop computer, extra time for tests, the opportunity to temporarily leave class if the child’s had an anxiety attack, and a special advocate to smooth over any problems with teachers.
The parents hired a special consultant instead, who found alternative schooling opportunities — all were private schools and all were out-of-state. They settled on a boarding school in Maine, outside the main city, that had one-tenth of the enrollment of the California schools. The one thing this school did not offer was a special education program. The mother said that smaller classrooms and a smaller campus were more important than a special education program. Since the possibility of anxiety attacks was mentioned in the article, no one can truly judge the merit of this situation except the child’s physician and/or psychologist.
After the child was placed into the private school, the parents then hired an attorney, who specializes in special education cases, to file papers with the court demanding the California schools pay four years of tuition and family travel costs between California and Maine. Tuition was $30,000 annually. The California schools met the demands.
This is only one such case in the California schools, which may or may not have been justified. The problem is that it is not the only case. In 2005, there were 3,763 California schools children with disabilities that were the focus of formal complaints — the vast majority of which came from parents. This is triple the number of only ten years ago, and the numbers are growing.
With a cost of almost $40,000 to go to a court hearing and the possibility of an expensive judgment, the California schools attempt to settle cases before they get that far. In 2005, ten percent of the California schools’ cases went to a full hearing — 386 in all. The remaining 90 percent were resolved through confidential settlements. With 700,000 special needs students currently in the California schools and already paying hundreds of thousands of dollars each year for private placements, the school system is headed for a financial crisis.
In 2004, the California schools received $4.1 billion for special education from the government and local sources. It was still not enough to pay these extra settlement costs, and the California schools had to take $1.6 billion from the regular class budget. Twenty-eight percent of the special education expenditures that year came from the regular education budget.
California schools educators complain that parents who are able to afford an attorney are assured more opportunities for their children than those who cannot afford to do so, creating an inequity between the haves and have-nots. Additionally, special education teachers see benefits to special programs, such as horseback riding therapy, but acknowledge that such parent demands are not education related. California schools parents and educators are at odds.
Parents are making tuition payment demands of the California schools for such programs as private day schools, boarding schools, summer camps, horseback riding therapy, and aqua therapy. Additionally, the California schools are expected to pay for computers, airfare, car rental, hotel stays, meals, new clothing and tailoring for the children, cell phone calls, stamps, gas and tolls, and future round-trip visits from time of enrollment until the children graduate from high school.
In all, the California schools are paying billions of dollars each year for private placements and auxiliary costs. It is creating an inequity for children the civil rights law was passed to protect and a financial crisis for the California schools.
I have to admit that I wanted every opportunity possible for my child to live a happy and normal adult life. I had a special needs child and spent many hours sitting in principals’ offices and at the school board demanding that his needs be met. I was thankful that he received access to the available offerings within the public school system.
In my view, however, it is not a question of right or wrong, justified expenditure or not. It is a question of the legislators going back and specifically defining the word “appropriate”. Until then, the California schools are borrowing from Peter to pay Paul, which means less opportunities all the way around.
For more information please visit California School Report Cards and Private School Ratings in California
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/k-12-education-articles/special-education-needs-causing-financial-crisis-in-california-schools-37656.html
About the Author
Patricia Hawke is a staff writer for Schools K-12, providing free, in-depth reports on all U.S. public and private K-12 schools. Patricia has a nose for research and writes stimulating news and views on school issues. For more information please visit California School Ratings and California School Rankings
Children with special needs may encounter financial difficulties without Life Insurance
Special needs children require a lot of care, not just in their younger years, but also as adults, often at the hands of a dedicated caregiver. The monthly expenses of caring for a child with special needs can easily run into hundreds of dollars.
Parents are often too overwhelmed with the daily demands of these children, to worry about looking into the right financial planning vehicle to provide for special children in their later years. However, when you are the parent of a special needs child, you should consider planning your insurance so that your child receives the maximum benefits. A term life insurance is the most affordable insurance plan.
Some of the difficulties commonly encountered when providing for the future of a child with special needs.
Children with special needs often need assistance all through their adult life, and obviously parents cannot provide their personal care indefinitely.
- Many parents think of making a sibling the beneficiary of their special needs insurance plan, and entrusting the sibling with the responsibility of succeeding themselves as caregivers. In such a case, what if the sibling predeceases the special needs child, or worse, misappropriates the money (there have been too many instances)?
- Some parents think that making a special needs child a direct beneficiary of their insurance policies is the best approach. What they don’t know is that by doing so they would disqualify the child from receiving government assistance. Any inheritance of more than $2000 will disqualify your special needs child from federal assistance and state assistance programs.
Therefore it is pertinent that parents not just plan for the future, but also make sure that their planning is correct, and is one that does not disqualify the child from getting the government assistance that he or she is entitled to, as a United States citizen.
Life insurance planning
Most parents with special needs children have seriously considered one or both of the above-mentioned ‘mistakes’. But as you can see, they are both not the ideal way to make sure your child has enough money (and therefore adequate care) when you are not around.
The answer to the above challenge is to form a trust, and make the trustee a beneficiary to your life insurance policy, so that the trust is funded by your life insurance benefits (and even other assets if you so wish). The trustee is not allowed to benefit personally from the trust. Further, receiving financial benefits via a trust won’t disqualify children with special needs from receiving government assistance. So forming a trust will overcome both the problems highlighted above.
In addition to forming a trust, here are more tips for you when planning your child’s future.
- Work out details of your plan, and make sure other family members are clear about it too. Despite the formation of a trust, a child with special needs will need a place to stay. Involve the whole family in deciding where that will be, especially when after both you and your spouse are no more.
- Talk to an attorney and financial advisors who specialize in special needs cases.
- Write a letter of intent and leave it your attorney. Your attorney will help you draft it.
- Work out what government benefits your child is entitled to.
Choosing the right life insurance policy
Permanent life insurance policies usually provide for a cash value in addition to the sum insured and can be very useful in financial planning for the needs of a special needs child. Term life insurance policies provide only the sum assured, but are available for pre-defined terms only. Keeping in mind that parents may already have a lot of financial responsibilities, term life insurance is the more economical option, provided it is taken for a long-enough term, or comes with an option to favorably extend the policy at the end of the term. Term life quotes can be easily obtained through the Internet from a multi-carrier insurance agency. Keeping in mind that you are planning for a special needs child, you would probably find it beneficial to follow-up the free online quote by meeting with a representative for an in-depth discussion.
Be prepared, the right way
A lot of families are quite unprepared to deal with the future needs of children with special needs. These days, medical technology is helping children with special needs to live longer and more productive lives. Insurance and its correct disbursement via a trust are key components in making sure that they are happy and cared for though life.
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About AccuQuote:
AccuQuote is a leader in providing term life quotes to people across the United States. In 1986 it began operating with a single goal: to make the process of buying term life insurance as easy as possible for its customers. Their experienced professionals consistently deliver the most affordable term life insurance rates by comparing thousands of life insurance policies from dozens of top-rated carriers.
Estate Planning For Special Needs Children- Special Needs Trusts
Parents generally face challenges when it comes to estate planning needs for their special children. Finding a planning strategy that protects and safeguards the privileges provided to special child once his or her parents are gone becomes cumbersome. Planning and safeguarding the future of special kids requires in-depth knowledge of the federal laws that concern government benefit eligibility and the legal credentials such as trusts and guardianships. These strategies do not only include financial considerations with regards financial security, but also quality life.
This planning method also holds true for issues dealing with medical as well as specialized services and medical equipment. You should understand the educational laws and thus participate in your child’s educational plans. Planning for special children requires you to become a primary expert, or you may also seek help of a professional who deals in special needs estate planning. Though lots of of these issues give an overwhelming impression, it is vital for you to spend some time with experts today to endow your child with a secured tomorrow.
Some estate planning help agencies are committed to serve families who seek help in estate planning tips for special needs children. They walk through the maze by handling financial as well as legal complexities, while planning the future of such special kids. They help families secure a quality life as well as lifetime care for their children or other dependents with special needs.
The primary way to protect such kids is by securing a special trust. This has a trustee who helps to preserve and protect the wealth for the benefit of the special needs child with special allotment rules that put a ceiling on the distributions to the special child. This is done to safeguard his or her power to gain government remuneration.
Some special needs children grow up to be normal adults who can handle their estates as well as manage their own finances. There are many agencies like MetDESK that help parents to handle special kids. A survey found that many special needs children were unable to manage their own basic needs and medical care. In the survey it was noticed that majority of parents had more than one child who needed special care and majority of children were under 18 or under the age of 5 and only 27% were adults.
The survey revealed that children basically had more than one type of special need and close to half of the families indicated that their child faced severe emotional issues. On an average the parents were in the age group of 43 years and above and had some college education earning an average income of $50,000 annually.
Special needs children, need extra help and hence parents should work with finance advisors or specialists that help families, so as to make it safe in the case of both, lifetime care and quality of life for their children or other dependents. The basic point handled should be with regards the protection of the eligibility of such kids to avail important government benefits such as Supplemental Security Income(SSI) and Medicaid.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/finance-articles/estate-planning-for-special-needs-children-special-needs-trusts-209510.html
About the Author
Sacramento CPA Firm Murray and Young offer Tax Representation by a former IRS auditor. For useful articles and tips by Sacramento Estate Tax Planners, please visit our website at http://www.april15.com.
Parents of a Special Needs Children Should Develop Plan for Later in Life
By Denice Gierach
As published in the Naperville Sun – April 29, 2007
If you have a child with special needs, you understandably worry about taking care of their needs while you are alive, but also after you have died. A disabled or special needs parent needs to find appropriate care and services, work with the child to obtain independent living skills to the extent possible and protect that child from any harm. This type of planning involves managing finances and making personal decisions in the event of the disability or death of both parents. A disabled child may need the parent to make decisions for that child well into adulthood and need to look forward to future residential needs, as well as finding the appropriate caretaker for that child when they are unable to do so.
First, one should note that without appropriate estate planning, the disabled or special needs child will inherit from the parents. Since the child is not able to manage the financial assets, this would most probably require the court appointment of a guardian. Such a guardian would have to request for distributions to be made for the benefit of the child and account to the court each year. In addition, if the child inherits from the parents, the assets that the child is entitled to receive may preclude the child from obtaining certain types of governmental assistance benefits without the assets being spent for their benefit prior to applying for governmental aid programs.
The area of governmental benefit programs is complex, as the child may be entitled to one or more programs and the requirements are different for each type of program. For instance, unearned income and ownership of assets do not affect eligibility for Social Security and Medicare benefits (when the child is an older adult), but they do for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Medicaid. SSI eligibility is affected not only by cash and checks paid to a child but also by in-kind income in the form of goods and services purchased by third parties. The goal is to insure that the child is not disqualified from receiving assets place in the child’s name at the parents’ death or disability.
Many parents make use of a discretionary special needs trust. This trust document is established and funded by the parents and must clearly state that the purpose of the trust is to supplement, not to replace, funds available from governmental and other benefit programs. The trustee must have complete discretion to use the funds in any way for the beneficiary. In addition, the child must not have any legal right to access the assets of the trust or the income of the trust. The trustee chosen must understand the rules concerning the governmental programs, so as to not make a distribution that will adversely impact the child’s eligibility to obtain governmental assistance.
It may also be advisable to obtain a comprehensive professional evaluation of the child’s physical, medical, social, emotional, education and services needs, if one has not yet been done. This will assist your attorney and financial advisor to refer you to the appropriate case manager or agencies that service children with the particular disability that the child has that will be the most beneficial to the child.
Caring for a disabled child or one with special needs is a 24/7 job. If you are no longer around to do this job, you should plan ahead to make sure that your child will obtain proper care and be able to live a life that will be the best under the circumstances.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/personal-finance-articles/parents-of-a-special-needs-children-should-develop-plan-for-later-in-life-545471.html
About the Author
Denice Gierach is a lawyer and owner of The Gierach Law Firm in Naperville. She is a certified public accountant and has a master’s degree in management. She may be reached at deniceg@gierachlawfirm.com. For more information on Denice and The Gierach Law Firm visit Gierach Law Firm
How To Promote Friendships Amongst Special Needs and Non-Disabled Children
Promoting friendships amongst special needs and non-disabled children can be difficult, but can result in lasting relationships. One of the biggest obstacles to promoting such friendships is the social taboo of disability.
This taboo can be overcome by educating children about disabilities. Like everyone else, children are often scared of the unknown; when they are unfamiliar with children who suffer from disabilities they will be more likely to shy away from them. Educating all children, disabled and non-disabled alike, will promote tolerance and acceptance of the differences between them. This acceptance and understanding of one another will pave the way for lasting friendships.
Another issue that may need to be addressed is attention. Disabled children often require more attention than non-disabled children, which can make non-disabled children feel left out. This feeling of isolation may lead them to act out, either by ignoring the child receiving the attention or by misbehaving to compete for the attention. If both children can participate in the activity, then it is best to include everyone, even if it is geared toward one child or another. This inclusion will help build relationships and will promote an understanding between the children.
Another important part of promoting friendships between special needs and non-disabled children is to try and treat all of the children as equally as possible. Every child is different and requires special care in one way or another, but it is important to avoid calling undue attention to these differences. By treating the children the same they will feel as though they belong to one cohesive group, rather than feeling as though they are two groups of children merged together.
Once educated, children are often forgiving of the differences in others. With the proper knowledge and the right amount of attention, all children, disabled and non-disabled alike, will be able to learn how to build lasting friendships with one another.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/disabilities-articles/how-to-promote-friendships-amongst-special-needs-and-non-disabled-children-2785790.html
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Sensory Learning Special Needs Toys
Different children require different resources and sensory learning special needs toys provide all the resources and toys for a basic sensory room, as well as more advanced equipment. This enables the setting up of a whole room or just a relaxation corner within a child’s setting that is soothing and stimulating.
Feely Bags
Feely Bags promote tactile determination, cognitive skills and concentration. Different things may be hidden in these colourful bags and children will gain a variety of tactile impressions as they finger the thin feely bags trying to discover the contents. The objects on the ledge will help them identify the objects the bags, the Feely bags special needs toys are ideal for individual or group play.
Mirror Merry Go Round
The Mirror Merry go Round toy is a beautifully produced chime mobile with twelve jingle mirrors. Hand crafted from top quality wood, unbreakable acrylic mirror material and touch plastic, it is designed to withstand rough treatment for many years. Ideal for young or handicapped children, particularly those with a visual impairment.
Sensory Suitcase
The Sensory suitcase learning development aid is extremely compact and houses a wealth of sensory equipment that is ideal for therapy, education and play activities. The suitcase is an Aladdin’s cave of sensory stimuli. Frances Binns a Therapeutic & Specialised Play Consultant says “A unique piece of equipment that can be utilised everywhere. Helps to provide different therapeutic sensory stimulating activities”
Sensory Pods
These fantastic pop up Sensory Pods are ideal for environments where a full sensory room is not available, they are ideal for use with projectors and light sources and provide a safe and enclosed area for sensory exploration. The modular element of the pods allows for the ability to quickly and easily join multiple pods together , creating a large sensory trail for visual, auditory and tactile exploration. Pop up construction means that this product can be set up instantly for use, then quickly folded down and stored away in the included carry bag.
Sensory Play Bubble
The Sensory bubble allows you to create a safe sensory environment for individual children. The partially enclosed design of the bubble allows children to experience an encompassing sensory environment, whilst still being accessible. The soft mat provides a comfortable surface for the child to lie down or sit, while the white surfaces are ideal for use with projectors and light sources. Pop up construction means that this product can be set up instantly for use, then quickly folded down and stored away in the included carry bag.
Sensory Ball House
The Sensory ball pool is perfect for creating a safe and enjoyable sensory experience. The white surfaces are perfect for use with light sources, projectors, uv reactants or glow in the dark balls. Children will be fascinated by the effects of various lighting on the ball pool and balls, allowing them to explore an encompassing and unique sensory experience in a safe and enjoyable environment. Pop up construction means that this product can be set up instantly for use, then quickly folded down and stored away in the included carry bag.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/k-12-education-articles/sensory-learning-special-needs-toys-4761258.html
About the Author
LDA education is a leading provider of special needs resources and primary educational support, offering innovative and creative special needs toys for children
Teenagers and Exposure to Their Special Needs Peers
Recently, I’ve begun working for an autism treatment provider, but I’m no stranger to autism. As an adolescent in Chicago, I attended a high school that offered special education classes and I volunteered on weekends for a local organization dedicated to those with special needs. This exposure to special needs teens seemed effortless, the normal backdrop of community life where I lived. Volunteering wasn’t laudable or exceptional—it was just what many we did—go to concerts with our friends late on Saturday nights, and sing Good Morning songs, our arms slung around the shoulders of autistic and mentally-retarded peers the next morning at Keshet (Hebrew for rainbow).
At school, the combination of puberty and severe autism made for some aggressive and strange behaviors for some of the students—a big, strong, ponytail-pulling boy comes to mind. Still, the general attitude among the mainstream student body was one of, Say hi, slap him five, and yeah, try not to turn your back if your hair’s in a ponytail, rather than avoidance or any form of mockery. It became a point of pride to reach the seemingly unreachable, to achieve eye contact or recognition from one of these students.
I can’t comment conclusively on how regular, positive social interactions with neuro-typical friends impacted my special needs peers, but I know how they affected my friends and me. In the short term, it forced us to develop social sophistication and empathy beyond our years and beyond our comfort zone—the ability to find common ground when sameness isn’t readily apparent. In college and as young adults, we used this foundation to relate to acquaintances and roommates who spanned ages, nationalities, mental and physical capacities. Years later, as some us become parents, we are better equipped to recognize, approach, and even appreciate the differences each of our children brings to our lives and the world.
But often the less feel-good interactions are the most impactful. Nearing my high school graduation, I spent a summer as a counselor at a special needs day camp for adolescents and young adults with autism and related disorders. The camper-counselor ratio was one-to-one. Many didn’t speak or even use the bathroom independently, yet were a match for us physically. We were supervised by behavioral therapists and underwent some basic training but much of our role was instinctive: reward positive behavior, focus on individual goals, and pay attention – always.
Lounging together at the pool one afternoon, I glanced at Ben, my own water-phobic, thirteen-year-old, autistic charge to find him covered in blood. It was that quick—one second he was humming happily next to me, the next his swimsuit-clad body and wavy hair were streaked red. And he continued humming, utterly calm and emotionally unchanged, smearing what seemed like massive amounts of blood along his torso with no sign of distress. After a panicked search for the source of injury, I discovered that the simple nosebleed that had started it all had already stopped. Ben, undisturbed by the sensation of bleeding, had done all of the distracting “painting” while the sun warmed our faces.
That experience gave me a glimpse, at seventeen years old, of the day-to-day challenges faced by many caregivers and parents of children with autism. Now a mother of three little boys, I’ve had my share of ER visits and scares: broken limbs, febrile seizures, a near-drowning, even open-heart surgery during the infancy of my youngest. I’ve been pushed way out of my comfort zone, have experienced fear on a level previously unimaginable, but the basics I learned as a kid have helped—it usually looks worse than it is. Soldier through. Optimism can change outcome.
Working in the field today, I’m again reminded of these adolescent experiences. I wonder if the “group think” acceptance of disabilities in my high school was unusual, even remarkable, and how we can encourage similar experiences for future generations. Certainly, I’m better off for them.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/home-and-family-articles/teenagers-and-exposure-to-their-special-needs-peers-4061811.html
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Pets With Special Needs
Like people, pets can develop physical problems that require special attention. In the past it was common for such a pet to face euthanasia. However, with the great advances made in veterinarian medicine as well an increased awareness of the human-animal bond many of these special needs pets are finding a place in the hearts and homes of pet owners.
Special needs pets are often able to adapt to their “disability” more readily than their human counterparts, however they still require a lifestyle and environmental modifications to accommodate their particular needs. This also means adaptations as well as a higher level of commitment on the part of the pet owner. Let’s look at some of the more common disabilities in pets.
Many pets are blind; some are blind from birth while others were blinded by accident or disease. Often people who lose their site will speak of the heightened sense of smell and hearing they experience, as theses senses adapt to compensate for the lack of vision. Knowing that our pets have a keener sense of smell and hearing than we do and assuming that the same adaptation occurs to accommodate the loss of one of the other senses it is easy to see why they are able to adapt so well to that loss of sight. One great example of how these pets can cope and still live full and happy lives is a dog named Tess. Due to Glaucoma Tess lost her sight and her eyes had to be surgically removed. To see her amazing story visit http://Blindanimal.com there you will see some amazing videos of Tess playing football, fetch and learning to negotiate large steps. This site is also a great resource for anyone who has a blind pet.
A blind pet obviously needs to be protected from hazards they cannot see. For example, it may be a wise idea to keep stairways inaccessible with childproof gates to prevent accidental falls. A blind pet should never negotiate stairs without supervision. Likewise, it is not wise to leave a sightless pet outside alone. Many things can happen which could frighten or disorient them and they may wander off in the wrong direction leading to very real dangers for them. When walking a blind pet in a new or strange location, for example on a vacation, it is recommended to use a body harness as opposed to a collar. This helps the pet to feel more secure because it gives more body contact helping the pet to feel safely connected to the pet owner. It will take some time but the most important thing is that a blind pet learns to trust their owner.
Another common disability among pets is hearing loss. Of course the difficulty here is that the pet owner cannot signal or give the pet commands verbally. However, this does not mean that deaf animals cannot learn to follow commands. With a little time and patience on the part of the pet owner a deaf pet can be trained using a combination of facial expressions, eye contact, hand signals and touch. Many owners of deaf pets have come up with clever ways of gaining their pets attention such as remote control vibrating collars or stomping on the floor to create vibrations. Some use flashlights or reflections from small hand mirrors. For more useful information on living with a deaf pet visit http://www.leadwithyourheart.net/Deaf_Animals
Animal amputees have one of the more obvious disabilities, unlike deafness or even blindness a missing limb stands out. No matter how noticeable it is to people, animals don’t seem to give a second thought to a missing limb. Of course the loss of limb is a major change and the amputee will need some time to adjust, however animals adapt amazingly well the loss of a leg. Often times they are capable of moving just as well as they did before the amputation. There are some truly amazing stories about three legged animals and what they can do. A great source of information is http://www.squidoo.com/tripawd this site offers videos as well as advice on what to look for in a surgeon if your pet is facing the possibility of an amputation. There is a also a link to their alternate site with additional information.
Caring for animals with special needs can be challenging but helping a pet in need can be an extremely rewarding experience. If you are considering adopting a special needs pet be sure to discuss it with your veterinarian to fully understand what their requirements are and that they are a good fit for you, your family, and your lifestyle. Making the right choice will ultimately lead to fulfilling and rewarding lives for both you and your special needs pet.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/pets-with-special-needs-3230009.html
About the Author
Jeffrey Weber has been a long time and avid pet lover. Over the years he has had the privilege to learn from pet professionals, as well as from his own experience, many things that enhance the joys of having a pet. In an effort to help strengthen the bond between people and their pets he openly shares his knowledge on his blog “Family Pets”
In addition Jeff and his wife believe a healthy pet is a happy pet and offer highest quality pet supplies at Your-Pets-R-Family-2
An Independent Consultant's View of Mental Health Disorders and Special Needs
According to the National Center for Children in Poverty, one in five children from birth to 18 has a diagnosable mental disorder. Moreover, one in 10 youths has mental health problems that are serious enough to impair how they function at home, in school, or in the community in which they live. Among the diagnosable mental disorders common in children are anxiety, mood disorder such as depression, and disruptive disorders such as attention deficit and hyperactive disorders.
Special needs, however, are a different concern. Special needs is an umbrella term under which a broad array of diagnosis can be put. Children with special needs may have learning disabilities that range from being mild to profound mental retardation. They may have developmental delays from which they may catch up quickly or some from which they may not catch up at all. Also they may have an occasional panic attack or serious psychiatric problems. Some special needs that can be clearly diagnosed include fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, dysfunction of sensory integration, autism, and dyslexia.
Problems peculiar to children with a mental disorder and special needs are not uncommon. It is not unusual for a child with attention deficit hyperactive disorder to have a learning disability such as a central auditory processing disorder and may struggle with school work regardless of their intellectual abilities.
As a mental health consultant, here is the distinction that I make. Mental disorders are essentially psychological problems while special needs are disabilities that affect how a child can effectively function in society. The psychological problems such as mood swings, fits of depression, and feelings of anxiety can be addressed by a competent psychotherapist using one or more approaches such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, social skills training, and parent counseling. Medication may be required, but should never be the sole therapy. It is often most effective when used in combination with a behavioral based treatment. A child will not learn socially acceptable behavior if it is never addressed in therapy.
A child with special needs represent a set of different concerns and approaches. They may require specialized learning strategies to help the child to meet his potential and to avoid the loss of the child’s self-esteem and reduce behavioral difficulties. Effective approaches will also involve the school system which is lawfully required to engage the child in an educational program designed to meet his needs. However despite these efforts and time, the child may not respond. Still, you have to continue with love, seek to understand the situation, and have child work towards self-sufficiency.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/small-business-articles/an-independent-consultants-view-of-mental-health-disorders-and-special-needs-3528283.html
About the Author
Keep up to date with timely financial and personal growth tips and strategies. Visit http://www.yourconsultantsite.com and http://www.youcontrol.blogspot.com. You can subscribe to the monthly Financial/Personal Growth newsletter at either site as well as read and download the free articles and e-books. Will Barnes is a financial and personal growth consultant based in Illinois. Mr Barnes has conducted hundreds of workshops on parenting and counseled parents for decades.