Care for People with Special Needs

UNIT
INTRODUCTION
1

CAREGIVERS are responsible for the care and well being of others. Most people who go into
this field are known for their sensitivity, their giving nature and their nurturing desire to help
those in need.
Special Needs: refer to the extra care required to take care of someone with either mental or
physical disabilities. When communicating with Person with Disabilites (PWD), it is important
to treat them with respect and dignity.
According to the World Health Organization, disability has three dimensions:

1. Impairment in a person’s body structure or function, or mental functioning; examples of impairments

include loss of a limb, loss of vision or memory loss.
2.Activity limitation, such as difficulty seeing, hearing, walking, or problem solving.
3.Participation restrictions in normal daily activities, such as working, engaging in social and recreational
activities, and obtaining health care and preventive services.

Effective ways to communicate with Person with Disabilities:

1. Treat an adult with a disability like an adult.

2. Listen carefully to an individual who has trouble speaking.
3. Offer to assist the person with special needs when you think he/she may need help.
4. Touch a visually impaired person on the elbow to let him/her know you are speaking.
5. Relax. It is normal to feel uncomfortable but constant worry will make the situation worse. If
you accidentally offend the person with special needs, apologize and explain that you did not
mean to hurt their feelings.

PHILIPPINE WOMEN’S UNIVERSITY CDCECPage 1

 Care for People with Special Needs

DISABILITY

 It is the consequence of an impairment that may be present from birth or occur during a
person’s lifetime
 A measurable impairment or limitation that interferes with a person’s ability.
 It may refer to a Physical, Sensory, Cognitive, Mental, Emotional and Developmental
condition.

HANDICAP

 Is a disadvantage that occurs as a result of a disability or an impairment.

 Other terms: Disabled, Incapacitated, Disadvantaged, Crippled

PHILIPPINE WOMEN’S UNIVERSITY CDCECPage 2

 Care for People with Special Needs

TYPES OF DISABILITIES

1. Sensory disability

o This involves malfunction of the 5 senses; it generally refers to a disability

related to hearing, vision or both
o It includes Deafness, Muteness and Blindness

2. Physical disability

o This involves medical conditions including: limited energy and strength

and little muscle control
o It includes Spinal Cord Injury, Spina Bifida, Multiple Sclerosis, Amputation

3. Cognitive disability
o It is a term used when a person has certain limitations in mental
functioning and skills such as communicating, taking care of self and
social skills
o It includes Intellectual Disability Disorder, Autism, Down Syndrome

PHILIPPINE WOMEN’S UNIVERSITY CDCECPage 3

 Care for People with Special Needs

4. Mental disability

o Is a varied group of conditions that significantly affect how a person feels,

thinks, behaves and interacts with other people
o It includes Obsessive Compulsive disorder, Phobia, Bipolar, Paranoia,
Depression, Schizophrenia

5. Emotional disability
o It is a condition exhibiting one or more of the following characteristics
over a long period of time and to a marked degree that adversely affects
a child’s educational performance
o It includes ADHD, Anxiety disorders

PHILIPPINE WOMEN’S UNIVERSITY CDCECPage 4

 Care for People with Special Needs

6. Developmental disability
o Also called INTELLECTUAL DEVELOPMENT DISORDER; characterized by
impaired intellectual and adaptive functioning which is defined by an IQ
score of below 70 as well as a delay in general daily living skills
o It includes Autism, Behavior disorders, Brain injury, Cerebral palsy, Down
syndrome

People First Language

 Putting the person first not the disability. Ex: Person with Disability (PWD) not
disabled person. Person with AIDS rather than AIDS victim.
 Avoiding generic labels : Ex. People with Mental retardation is preferable to
Mentally retarded.
 Emphasizing abilities not limitations : Ex. Uses a wheelchair is preferable to
confined to a wheelchair
 Avoiding implying illness or suffering : Ex. Had polio is preferable to is a Polio
victim. Multiple sclerosis is preferable to suffers from Multiple sclerosis

PHILIPPINE WOMEN’S UNIVERSITY CDCECPage 5

 Care for People with Special Needs

EFFECTS OF IMMOBILITY TO DIFFERENT BODY SYSTEMS

Immobility is defined as the reduced physical activity through disease, injury, or

following major surgery. Immobility generally has a negative effect on many of the major
organs of the body, including cardiovascular, respiratory, musculoskeletal, integumentary,
gastrointestinal, renal, and nervous system. Immobility often cannot be prevented, but many of
its adverse effects can be. Improvements in mobility are almost always possible even in the
most immobile older patients. Relatively small improvements in mobility can decrease the
incidence and severity of complications, improve the patient’s well being and make life easier
for Caregivers.

CAUSES OF IMMOBILITY:
1. Physical factors
2. Environmental factors
3. Neurological and Cardiovascular disorders – most common cause
MANAGEMENT:
 Thorough assessment by health professionals
 Physical Therapy
 Medications
 Surgery

PHILIPPINE WOMEN’S UNIVERSITY CDCECPage 6

 Care for People with Special Needs

CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM (Heart)

o Heart is responsible for transporting the blood through the body

o When immobile, the heart works harder to do its job
o Risk of clot formation in the blood stream
o Slows down blood circulation
o Postural hypotension

RESPIRATORY SYSTEM (Lungs)

o Building up of fluids when immobile

o Breathing becomes shallow
o Less oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange
o Increased respiratory rate

PHILIPPINE WOMEN’S UNIVERSITY CDCECPage 7

 Care for People with Special Needs

MUSCULOSKELETAL SYSTEM (Muscle and Bones)

o Become weaken when not in use

o Begin to lose flexibility
o Begin to lose bone density
o Reduce the absorption of Calcium

GASTROINTESTINAL SYSTEM (Stomach/Intestines)

o Decrease appetite
o Digestion slows down
o Lead to fecal impaction
o Constipation

PHILIPPINE WOMEN’S UNIVERSITY CDCECPage 8

 Care for People with Special Needs

NERVOUS SYSTEM (Brain/Spinal Cord)

o Tingling sensations
o Numbness

GENITOURINARY SYSTEM (Kidneys)

o Kidney stones formation

o Incomplete voiding
o Bladder infection
o Fluid retention

PHILIPPINE WOMEN’S UNIVERSITY CDCECPage 9

 Care for People with Special Needs

ENDOCRINE SYSTEM (Liver)

o Nausea
o Indigestion
o Gas formation

INTEGUMENTARY SYSTEM (Skin)

o Bedsore
o Longer time of healing
o Swelling

PHILIPPINE WOMEN’S UNIVERSITY CDCECPage 10

 Care for People with Special Needs

LAWS PROTECTING THE RIGHTS OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITY

REPUBLIC ACT 9442

 Magna Carta for person with disability
 20% discount from all establishments (Hotel, Restaurant, Resort)
 20% discount for purchase of medicinesin all drugstore including Xray and laboratory
fees
 Same benefits and privilege given by SSS, GSIS, Pag ibig
 ID Issued by the City or Municipality

REPUBLIC ACT 7277

 Rights as the same with other people in the society (Employment, Education,
Accessibility, Political and Civil rights, Transportation, Public Accomodation, Housing
Program)

REPUBLIC ACT 10524

 Equal opportunity for Employment – at least 1% of all position in all government
agencies, offices, incorporations shall be reserved for PWD’s)

REPUBLIC ACT 10336

 An act authorizing the Comelec to establish precincts assigned to accessible polling
places exclusively for PWD’s

REPUBLIC ACT 10627

 Anti Bullying ACT of 2013

PHILIPPINE WOMEN’S UNIVERSITY CDCECPage 11

 Care for People with Special Needs

 Bullying, as defined under the Act, is any severe or repeated use by one or more
students of a written, verbal or electronic expression, or a physical act or gesture, or any
combination thereof, directed at another student that has the effect of actually causing
or placing the latter in reasonable fear of physical or emotional harm or damage to his
property;
creating a hostile environment at school for the other student; infringing on the rights
of the other student at school; or materially and substantially disrupting the education
process or the orderly operation of a school; such as, but not limited to, the following:
 Any unwanted physical contact between the bully and the victim like punching, pushing,
shoving, kicking, slapping, tickling, headlocks, inflicting school pranks, teasing, fighting
and the use of available objects as weapons;
 Any act that causes damage to a victim’s psyche and/or emotional well-being;
 Any slanderous statement or accusation that causes the victim undue emotional distress
like directing foul language or profanity at the target, name-calling, tormenting and
commenting negatively on victim’s looks, clothes and body

PHILIPPINE WOMEN’S UNIVERSITY CDCECPage 12

 Care for People with Special Needs

PHILIPPINE WOMEN’S UNIVERSITY CDCECPage 13