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LECTURE NOTES ON ECE 4 (HEALTH, NUTRITION AND SAFETY)

LESSON 8: CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL HEALTH CARE NEEDS
Children with special health care needs are defined as “those who have or are at increased risk for
a chronic physical, developmental, behavioral, or emotional condition and who also require health
and related services of a type or amount beyond that required by children generally” (McPherson,
1998).
A. Individualized Planning for Health - The essential principles that should guide the care of
children with chronic conditions in early childhood education are: care should be family-centered,
individualized, safe, and legal.
"Family-centered care" involves providing the family health care and other services based on the
family's needs, priorities, and convenience rather than those of the service providers or the child
alone.
Introduction to Chronic Health Conditions
Although no summary in a textbook will replace the knowledge families and their health care and
service providers can provide about a child who has a chronic health condition, it can be helpful to
have some familiarity with different conditions.
Asthma
Asthma is a disease that affects the lungs. An asthma attack may include coughing, chest tightness,
wheezing, and trouble breathing.
Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral palsy (CP) is a group of disorders that affect a person’s ability to move and maintain
balance and posture.
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Children with ADHD may have trouble paying attention, controlling impulsive behaviors (may act
without thinking about what the result will be), or be overly active. It is normal for children to have
trouble focusing and behaving at one time or another. However, children with ADHD do not just
grow out of these behaviors.
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
There is often nothing about how people with ASD look that sets them apart from other people, but
people with ASD may communicate, interact, behave, and learn in ways that are different from most
other people.
Hearing Problems
Hearing loss can happen when any part of the ear is not working in the usual way. This includes the
outer ear, middle ear, inner ear, hearing (acoustic) nerve, and auditory system.
Inclusion
The full and active participation of children with disabilities or other special needs in community
activities, services, and programs designed for children without disabilities, including child care, is
referred to as inclusion. In an inclusive program, if support, accommodations, or modifications are
needed to ensure the child’s full, active participation, they are provided appropriately. The
participation results in an authentic sense of belonging for the child and family.
Individualizing Care and Education
When serving an individual child, the provider should focus on the child’s needs, not the disability or
its label. Working with the family and the service providers, teachers can provide individualized care
and education for the child’s unique needs and strengths, just as they should be doing for each and
every child in their classroom.