Empathy, care essential in working with special needs students
Education has been one of my passions in life since I was very young, and I truly believe that all educators possess the same passion, which makes children fall in love with them day after day. I have been in education for 15 years now, and I can say I have had a vast variety of students with different characters, personalities, learning abilities and preferences, though nothing can compare to the unconditional love these kids have to give.
Throughout my years in the field, I have learned that whatever personal struggles or situations I was facing, it all had to stay home because in the classroom it was all about my students and their learning. Regardless of what happened, these children would help me understand that at the end of the day, everything would be OK.
The other day I had the opportunity to visit a Special Needs Elementary School in Mexico and it was such a rewarding time. These children were so excited to see us and were ready to offer their unconditional love in appreciation for our visit. These children were from kindergarten to sixth grade and all had a learning disability from Down syndrome to Autism, ADHD, among others.
It was fascinating to see how the teachers had so much compassion and love for these children as they were teaching them life skills combined with literacy. The children were learning arts and crafts, welding, computer programs and cooking; everything they created or made was to sell to their parents and community members that come and support them in their learning. All I could think was it takes a calm, collected, organized, confident, and very special teacher to work with students who often need a great deal more support and assistance than their peers to succeed. It is only with true empathy and care that these teachers are able to offer what these kids need, education, guidance, support and attention to their basic needs.
It is estimated that 15 percent of children in the United States have a disability; therefore it is imperative that all educators are aware of these disabilities and understand that three in every 10 children will have some type of disability. All teachers should receive education in all types of disabilities and be aware of students in their classroom with disabilities.
In a typical school setting, children with disabilities are part of the general population as they learn, contribute to, and take part in all aspects of school life. This becomes a meaningful time for all students (typical or with disabilities) as they learn to associate with others by forming friendships, learning respect, and learning to better appreciate and understand individual differences, as they get prepared for adult life in a diverse society.
On the other hand, parents are the most important people in all children, especially with disabilities, as they are the number one educator these children will have. For schools, working with parents of children with special education needs offers clear strategies and support toward a successful school year for the children. At the same time, parents can become involved in their children’s education by volunteering at school, working with other special needs children.
Also, meeting other parents in similar situations and learning how they cope can be a great help. Caring for children with special education needs can be exhausting and stressful at times, but remember no one is alone in the care and education of these children. Reach out and ask for help and support. Ultimately, school staff and parents working together educating children to become selfsufficiency is essential.