Caring for children with special needs
Having a child with special needs, for some people, can be disastrous. We commonly use the term of special needs to describe the limitations as well as the inabilities possessed by such children. Children who suffer from special needs, both as a result from birth defects and injuries may experience such things from mild disabilities, developmental delays until mental retardation or even psychiatric problems. In other words, the disabilities can be medical, developmental, learning disabilities or even all three of them depending on the seriousness of the case.
However, we may not confuse this being with special needs with those of suffering from a mild developmental delay (depending on the child’s age). Bear in mind that every child develops in a unique phase, that’s why we have the terms of early birds and late bloomers. In short, the term of early birds refers to those who are developing earlier compared to those of their age while the latter refers to those taking their time a bit slowly thus developing a bit later than others of their age.
Early bird
Late bloomer
So it is very important for practical purposes that children who have special needs be identified as early as possible and that they be defined as such, so that they can receive the special help they need in order to live the best lives possible.
Anyway, without wasting any longer, the purpose of writing this article is simply over my gratefulness toward Ariq, my first son who suffers from cerebral palsy due to lack of oxygen during the last hours of pregnancy and delivery.
When one of his therapists in school advised us that Ariq had better taken up swimming lesson to strengthen his weak muscles, we barely had any issues against it. Ariq has been an eager swimmer (though not exactly in the context of really swims). One thing for sure, my son is not afraid of being in a pool. Once he’s in, he’ll be splashing around, yodeling and murmuring such language only he understands. He’ll be impatient at the pool edge, can’t hardly wait to get wet.
Splashing around and yodeling
His first session began approximately a month ago. It was a clear Friday morning around December. I took him there with the rest of my family, just curious on what methods the swimming therapist would use when dealing with such a child. Apparently, the key to success is simply patience. The therapist simply went with the flow, following our son splashing around at first then little by little, he started guiding him into performing simple exercise like using both feet to move and walk on the pool floor. It worked perfectly fine since Ariq really cooperated.
The eager swimmer
That day, Ariq was not alone. When we got there, there were other people from Ulaka, one of the schools for special needs. Later on we found out that Friday morning is their swimming session. Seeing children with special needs is nothing new for us since our son is also special but these children are far more different, their cases are seemed to be more complex than ours. We don’t mean to brag but if you watch closely, Ariq doesn’t seem to have disabilities as he appears fine, good-looking as I may add, and his legs are also in a golden proportion with the rest of his body parts. On the contrary, in these children case, it is obvious that they suffer more. We couldn’t seem to stop ourselves from praising for the blessings given to our Ariq.
Our heart and soul
Nevertheless, one thing I admire from them. There were quite a lot people at the pool from different ages but they seem to blend with one another. I saw some sort of strong bond among each one of them. They were eager to help one another both in and out of the pool. They lent hand whenever one of their friends needed help during the therapy sessions. Those with better shape and conditions became natural leaders for their friends. They observed the surrounding in case one of them needed help or in danger. It’s such a sweet thing to do.
They may look less perfect than all of us; yet, they show more compassion than we all do. God knows how much I was astounded by this. Hopefully whoever they are, they are able to cope better with the situation well and fast. I also hope that their parents do not feel inferior or ashamed for having such a child with such condition.
Source:
http://www.parents.com/baby/development/problems/your-late-bloomer/
http://specialchildren.about.com/od/gettingadiagnosis/p/whatare.htm
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