SHARES
“…but I am the only one in the whole kampung (village) who plays basketball. It’s lonely lah. I wish I had a normal brother like other people do… I wish to have the chance to teach basketball to my ‘normal’ brother.”
The above statement was extracted from UNICEF Malaysia, from a sibling of a boy with cerebral palsy and how he feels having a brother with disabilities. It has been suggested that approximately 10% to the population of 9.5 million children under 18 years old in Malaysia are special needs children. In Singapore the prevalence is 2.1% among the student population.
Who are special needs children?
Every kid is special. But what do we mean by special needs children? Special needs children is a broad term used to describe children with behaviour or emotional disorder, developmental needs or learning disability. These children require extra assistance in their lives to improve motor, communication, social, self-help and cognitive skills. They might also need medication or therapy which typically developing children do not need.
How do we communicate with them?
Life can be very challenging for a kid with special needs especially with communication. Furthermore, communication is fundamental to a child’s development and is the heart of relationships. Following are 10 tips on how to communicate with special needs children:
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Encouragement
The key to communication and continuous learning is motivation and encouragement. Whenever special needs children complete a difficult task or take on a challenging social situation, give them small rewards to make them feel motivated.
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Respect
Every individual needs a reason to communicate and the opportunity to have a go, so do special needs children. Thus, allow the child’s input into decisions that affect him. Some special needs children have the same brain functionality as other developing children. Hence, communicate to them the same as the rest. This can result in better responses as they feel like you are treating them like other children of their age.
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Be helpful
Always try to be helpful to someone with special needs. For instance, children with physical disability may require assistance in moving or with daily activities. That being said, it is important not to be overly helpful when no help is needed. This is because just like anyone, special needs children like to be independent as they can be.
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Be precise
Some special needs children have intellectual challenges. Thus, it is important to state your request clearly and precisely. Since they may not understand you, stay calm and be ready to rephrase your request.
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Transition time
Most special needs children may have a difficult time transitioning into a new activity. Allow extra time and help but also let the child take care of himself.
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Sign language or gestures
Sign language or gestures is a way of communication without words. It is not only confined to children with hearing difficulties, it can also be used for non-verbal children. Sign language is a way for special needs children to communicate without feeling pressured by their inability to speak.
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Art
Like sign language, art is another way for special needs children to express themselves without using words. It is a creative outlet for them as there is no right or wrong when creating pieces of art. Besides that, working on art projects encourage children to learn different textures and work on their fine motor skills.
8. Music
Music is a universal language. It is especially effective in communicating with children with special needs. They can express themselves and interact with others with music. When helping someone with special needs, it can be helpful to sing a song to ease him or her.
Conclusion
There are early intervention programmes which help infants and young children with developmental needs to facilitate the development of the skills needed. For instance, problem-solving, self-control, socialization and communication. Activities are designed to maximise their developmental growth potential and minimise the development of secondary disabilities.
Every child is different and requires different approaches to communication. It is important to understand their needs and support them in their developmental needs. Consult professionals such as child psychologists, speech, occupational & physiotherapists or special needs education specialists who would be able to advise on meeting their needs. Do remember early intervention is key!
If you need to consult a psychologist, speech, occupational or physiotherapist: call, send an enquiry or book an appointment on GetDoc
Further Reading:
- Learning Interventions for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
- Learning Interventions for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
- Learning Interventions for Dyslexia
by Soh May Leng
Born and raised in Malaysia, May Leng obtained her Bachelor of Dental Surgery from the University of Otago, New Zealand. She has joined the GetDoc team to relay valuable health information to the public. Staying active plays a big part in her daily life especially through outdoor sports such as running and swimming. She also enjoys travelling and has a passion for photography. View all articles by Soh May Leng.
