Special Needs: Defining and Understanding

the four types

Special needs can mean many things — from thriving with a condition that challenges a single

aspect of daily life to coping with something that forces you to learn a new normal. The term

“special needs” is used to describe a person with a physical or emotional difficulty or difference

that requires more assistance or specialized services.

A special need can enhance someone’s life in the same way it can cause challenges. Someone

with special needs may need help with vital activities ranging from movement or communication

to making important decisions and taking care of themselves, but teaching diversity from a

young age and overcoming adversity with the help of the ones you love can broaden horizons for

everyone involved.
 There are four main categories of special needs:

 Physical - multiple sclerosis, allergies and asthma, juvenile arthritis, leukemia, muscular

dystrophy, epilepsy.

 Developmental - Down syndrome, autism, dyslexia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia, dyspraxia,

aphasia or dysphasia, auditory processing disorder, visual processing disorder.

 Behavioral/emotional - obsessive compulsive disorder, dissociation, post-traumatic

stress disorder, anxiety, depression, attention deficit (hyperactivity) disorder, bipolar.

 Sensory-impaired - blindness, deaf or limited hearing, visually impaired.

A person might be born with special needs, or they may develop later in life. A child with special

needs has access to special education, sanctioned by the U.S. Department of Education under the

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). This law defines which children are eligible

for early intervention services, free public special education and related services.

Beyond children and youth, Benefits.gov offers resources and the Americans with Disabilities

Act (ADA) prohibits discrimination to those with special needs within schools, workplaces and

public spaces. Knowing the basics of some of these special needs can help to better understand

those coping and living a successful life with the condition.

Physical Special Needs

Whether someone is born with a physical special need or they develop this need as they age,

having a strong grasp on the facts will serve to ensure the individual’s safety and success in life.

A person who is born with a physical special need may have an innate ability to adapt to the

world around them, whereas someone thrust into or who gradually develops a physical special

need may have a tougher time establishing their new normal. Having a physician diagnose and

oversee the issue is paramount to maintaining stability through a physical special need. Here are

several common physical special needs and a few details about each.

Allergies and asthma: Allergies are common and often come from environmental factors, like

pollen count or food sensitivities. Acute allergies may produce a hypersensitive reaction known
as anaphylaxis. Asthma is a condition where the airways become inflamed, swelling, constricting

and producing excess mucus, making breathing difficult. Inhalers and oral steroids can help

manage varying intensities of asthma.

Limb differences: Someone may be born with a differently developed limb or they may lose a

limb later in life, and both require adapting to the world around them. An individual without

arms may learn to do more with their legs and feet. Someone who loses mobility in their legs

may find more independence in an efficient prosthesis.

Juvenile and chronic arthritis: This condition is much more unbearable during periods of time

known as “flare-ups,” where the patient experiences a great deal of joint inflammation and pain,

accompanied by a loss of strength, endurance and stamina. A child may outgrow juvenile

arthritis, but chronic arthritis throughout life can be managed with countless methods, including

home care, massage, exercise, steroids and other medications or surgery.

Multiple sclerosis: In this disease, the immune system eats away at the protective covering of

the nerves, disrupting communication between the brain and the body. Symptoms of MS include

vision loss, pain, fatigue and impaired coordination. Physical therapy and medication can help

with symptoms and slow progression.

Cerebral palsy: CP is a permanent disorder resulting from brain injuries that occur during fetal

development, birth or shortly thereafter. With CP, motor skills are disrupted, and the individual

sometimes experiences paralysis or seizures. Gait and posture can worsen over time if not

properly managed. It cannot be cured, but with the right education and treatment, a person with

CP can live a full life.

Epilepsy: Those with epilepsy have a tendency to have recurring seizures. Seizures are caused

by a sudden burst of electrical brain activity and thus cause a temporary disruption in the

messages passing between brain cells. Affecting people of all ages, epilepsy is largely

unpredictable but can be managed by a range of therapies, from medication to a service animal.
Developmental Special Needs

Delays in development are typically apparent very early in life, but some aren’t obvious until a

person reaches a certain level in their education. Early intervention is key for managing a

developmental special need.

Down syndrome: This genetic condition is caused by the presence of an extra chromosome in a

person’s DNA and occurs by chance at conception. There are distinct physical characteristics

accompanying Down syndrome, as well as complications like visual or auditory problems,

thyroid disease, decreased muscle tone or cardiac conditions. Early intervention is available, as

children with Down syndrome will experience delays in mobility and educational development.

Autism: Verbal and nonverbal communication can be affected by autism, which is typically

evident before age 3. Where a person falls on the autism spectrum can affect their educational

performance and social interaction. Common characteristics associated with autism include

repetitive activities and resistance to change in routines. Autism may also fall under sensory-

impaired special needs.

Dyslexia: This learning disability alters the way the brain processes the written word. Those with

dyslexia have difficulty reading, writing and spelling. Treatment for dyslexia is more successful

when started at a young age, rather than waiting until middle or high school to address.

Behavioral/Emotional Special Needs

Special needs stemming from someone’s behavior or emotions can be difficult to diagnose and

almost always require the intervention of a trained professional. Geraldine Gomez, a licensed

mental health counselor in Maitland, Florida, specializes in identifying these needs and helps her

clients learn to live with the condition.

“As a counselor, I have to pay special attention to anyone with a history of combat, childhood

trauma and any significant traumatic event in their adult life because of the possibility of

dissociation,” Gomez says. “The level of dissociation can have an impact on their functioning at

school, work and home life.”

Anxiety and depression can be the special need itself, or they can be the symptom of another

special need. A licensed clinician or doctor can make that determination.

“For both adults and children, I assess their environmental stresses to make sure that they are no

longer being exposed to the traumatic event that caused the symptoms,” Gomez says. “Once I

know that they are safe in the present, then we can continue with treatment.”

Dissociation: This mental process can cause a lack of connection in someone’s thoughts,

memory or sense of identity. There are varying levels of dissociation, with severe or chronic

forms resulting in multiple personality disorders or other dissociative disorders. Individuals with

this special need often mistrust authority and keep secrets, making it difficult to treat them.

Obsessive compulsive disorder: Those with OCD have obsessions or excessive thoughts that

lead to repetitive, compulsive behaviors. This mental health disorder affects people of all ages

and results in unwanted, intrusive thoughts and urges.

Attention-deficit (hyperactivity) disorder: About 5 percent of school-aged children are

affected by this challenging disorder. The earlier the diagnosis the better, as ADD and ADHD

can adversely affect a child’s educational experience. A strong partnership between teachers and

parents can add to the success of an individual with ADD/ADHD.

Eating disorders: Someone with abnormal eating habits — be they insufficient or excessive —

can be categorized as having an eating disorder. These disorders, like anorexia and bulimia, can

affect someone’s physical and emotional health.

Sensory-Impaired Special Needs

People with sensory disabilities or special needs can be aided in learning and communication

through technological and social advancements like auxiliary aids and adaptive equipment — a

highly trained service dog or a Type-N-Speak, for example. Accommodations at schools and

workplaces across the country are made for individuals with sensory impairments.
Sight-impaired: Blindness and loss of sight can be managed and diagnosed by an eye doctor.

An assistive technologist can develop a more thorough plan if impairment persists.

Hearing-impaired: Deafness and loss of hearing can affect the way an individual learns and

processes. An ear, nose and throat specialist and assistive technologist can help.

Sensory processing disorder: A person with this disorder has difficulty receiving and

responding to information from the senses: vision, hearing, touch, smell and taste. They may

have a heightened or lower sensitivity to stimuli like tolerating light, being touched, maintaining

eye contact and loud noises. This can be a disorder on its own, or it may be a characteristic of

another special need like autism, dyslexia, MS or Tourette syndrome.

Loving someone with special needs — or going through life with a special need yourself — can

come with some unexpected gifts. Families of children with Down syndrome know the

boundless love and affection that accompanies the condition, allowing them to step back and

enjoy life in the moment. People with autism experience life from a different perspective and

oftentimes have more intense honesty and curiosity for the world around them. A person living

with a sensory processing disorder may find that their body naturally enhances other senses to

make everything that much more vibrant. It’s all about understanding these needs and knowing

that you can get through it or help someone through it by being well-informed and surrounded by

a support system of love.

Down syndrome

Autism
Some question to remember to the children with special needs:

 What are the needs of a disabled child?

The most common unmet needs of the child related to learning skills, meeting physical needs,

and having someone to discuss their disability with. The most common unmet needs of the

parents were financial resources, help in planning the child's future, help with care, and

knowledge of available services.

 How can parents help children with special needs?

Support for Parents of Kids With Special Needs

 Accept help from friends and family. Everyone's busy and that makes it hard to ask for or

accept help.

 Be honest about what you need.

 Create a list of needs.

 Enlist other caregivers.

 Consider home health care.

 Seek companionship.

 How do you treat a disabled child?

Tips for dealing with your child's learning disability

 Keep things in perspective. A learning disability isn't insurmountable.

 Become your own expert.

 Be an advocate for your child.

 Remember that your influence outweighs all others.

 Clarify your goals.

 Be a good listener.

 Offer new solutions.

 Keep the focus.

 How do you take care of a disabled child?

Caring for a disabled child can make your daily parenting duties, such as feeding, toilet
training and getting them to sleep, more challenging.

 Feeding and eating.

 Sleeping.

 Potty training.

 Moving around.

 Challenging behaviour.

 Communicating with your child.

 Get in touch with Carers Direct.

 More information.

 How do you talk to a child with special needs?

Here are eight important tips you should pass on to people who will be working with your
special child.

 Interact.

 Observe.

 Use Common Sense.

 Be Flexible.

 Be Consistent.

 Use visual, auditory or tactile cues.

 Have a plan.

 Be Positive.

 How do you deal with children with special needs?

Steps:

 Assume the best.

 Show them patience and understanding when they struggle.

 Avoid making assumptions.

 Don't fear disability.

 Treat their disability and its symptoms as natural.

  Talk to them the same way you'd talk to another kid their age.

 Don't disclose an invisible disability without consent.

 How do you teach a mentally disabled child?

Tips for Parents:

 Learn about intellectual disability.

 Be patient, be hopeful.

 Encourage independence in your child.

 Give your child chores.

 Give your child frequent feedback.

 Find out what skills your child is learning at school.

 Find opportunities in your community for social activities.

 How do you discipline a child with ADHD?

1 These discipline strategies, however, can be instrumental in helping kids with ADHD

follow the rules.

 Provide Positive Attention.

 Give Effective Instructions.

 Praise Your Child's Effort.

 Use Time-Out When Necessary.

 Ignore Mild Misbehaviors.

 Establish a Reward System.

 Allow for Natural Consequences.

RESEARCH IN
FOUNDATION OF
SPECIAL AND INCLUSIVE
EDUCATION

Submitted by: Policarpio, Maricris V.

Submitted to: Dr. Erlinda Navarro

Yr & Section: BEED 1-1