To encourage parents to learn more about developmental disabilities like cognitive disability (formerly mental retardation), and autism, Grandma Jeddah will be posting throughout this month excerpts from her e-book Your Challenging Muslim Child with Special Needs, insha'Allah.
What is a Special Need?
Special
needs is a broad term used to describe a wide variety of conditions or
disabilities that certain people may be affected by and need assistance with. It
is a condition in which a person has special requirements due to a learning,
emotional, behavioral, or physical disability. Individuals with special needs might need
assistance for medical, mental, psychological or health problems. Assistance can be in the form of special
arrangements or accommodations, special education services, specialized
services and support, or monitoring. The following is an incomplete list of
disabilities that fall under the term of special needs:
·
Learning disabilities
·
Food allergies
·
Terminal illness
·
Motor disabilities
·
Visual impairment
·
Hearing impairment
·
Autism
·
Mental retardation/Cognitive
disability
·
Alzheimer’s
·
Paralysis
·
Epilepsy
·
Cerebral palsy
·
Diabetes
·
Downs syndrome
What is a Disability
The
definition of a disability varies depending on whom you ask and what agency is
defining it. In essence, it refers to a person who has limited, impaired, or a lack of ability to perform as
most others do in the areas of a person’s
physical, learning, language, or behavioral areas. Essentially, a
disability is a special need that an individual has. It might be said the terms
are synonymous. Disabilities can be
caused by genetics, an accident, or unspecified causes. A disability can occur
at any time in a person's life. It may begin in a fetus within the mother’s
womb or in an elderly person who develops Alzheimer’s.
What is a Developmental Disability?
Similar
to a disability, a developmental disability is a condition in which a person is
impaired or lacks the ability to perform as most others do. The distinguishing
factor between a disability and a developmental disability is that a
developmental disability begins during the developmental period of a child.
Thus, it is a condition that initially affects a child. However, the impact can
and often does last throughout a person’s lifetime. A few examples of the most
common developmental disabilities include autism, ADHD, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome
and intellectual disabilities.
Although a wide variety of
developmental disabilities exist, in this book I will focus on primarily five,
as these are the disabilities I have most extensive and ongoing experience
with. These five disabilities are learning disabilities, mental
retardation/cognitive disabilities, autism, ADHD and Tourettes syndrome. All
five are developmental disabilities. Even though my primary focus will relate
to these five disabilities, the information contained in this book can
certainly be used for children with other special needs.
Throughout this book, I will use all
three terms--special needs, disability, and developmental
disability—synonymously.
More excerpts continued, insha'Allah
Please click here to order http://www.grandmajeddah.com/Your-Challenging-Muslim-Child-with-Special-Needs-135.htm
More excerpts continued, insha'Allah
Please click here to order http://www.grandmajeddah.com/Your-Challenging-Muslim-Child-with-Special-Needs-135.htm
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