Dealing With Special Needs Individuals

Let me thank you for stopping by and ask that you bear with me! I am new at blogging, I ask that you be patient with me. I have a desire to help others understand a little more about special needs individuals. My aim is to be able to add to the blog at least twice a week, if time permits.

I have been in service to special need individuals for over 30 years as a foster parent and 10 years being an adopted parent of 3 special needs children.

They are exactly right with part of the dictionary definition of special needs. They are indeed “SPECIAL”. The dictionary describes them this way.

Special-needs(adj.)Of or relating to people who have specific needs, as those associated with a disability: special-needs housing; a special needs teacher.

This definition is not fully complete. First and foremost, one must understand that all disabilities are not the same. Some disabilities are seen while others are not. It is also true that a special needs individual need special-needs housing and special needs teachers. They need much, much more! They need your love, your understanding, a lot of your time and your patience, most of all.

They need to be able to express themselves in the way that they know how. Some all they can do is to scream to the top of their voice, while others will become physically abusive. It can be bothersome to some, while down right embarrassing to others. But you must realize that this is an individual who may be trying to tell you something and cannot display what is termed “proper behavior” to do so. They too are very frustrated; in some cases because that is the only way they know, to let you know how unhappy they are.

I mentioned proper behavior because everyone seems to have a difference of opinion of just what that is. A majority believes it is being quiet in a restaurant, no acting out in public (as they say), and doing what you are told. Sometimes, this is very hard for a special needs individual..

When an autistic individual joyfully plays with their hands in front of their face or take off runing like crazy at nothing. The more you call them, the funnier it gets to them and they run more. Do not dare try to run and catch them. It then becomes a “cat and mouse game” to them not realizing the danger they could be in, should they run in the street while a car is passing.

To the outside, it appears that this child has not been trained to act “proper” in public. Some will just shake their heads in disgust while others will just stare at you as if to say “can’t you handle your child” or “they do not have any home training”.

If they only had the compassion for what the parent is going through, they would see the fear on the parent’s face and realize that it has nothing to do with handling the child or home training. They will know this is an individual trying to escape the pain they are in or that this individual does not understand their surroundings because of a mental disability. One of those unseen disabilities.

I call working with special needs individual a service because to me it is an enjoyment even in those troubled time. I feel I received more from them because of the pure love they give back.

That’s all for now. Hope to see you at the next update.