Helping Children with special needs communicate

"Special Needs" is an umbrella underneath which a staggering array of diagnoses can be wedged. Children with special needs may have mild learning disabilities or profound mental retardation; food allergies or terminal illness; developmental delays that catch up quickly or remain entrenched; occasional panic attacks or serious psychiatric problems.

Children with special needs (those with developmental, emotional, physical or learning difficulties) are often at risk for difficulties in social-emotional development. Many of these toddlers and preschoolers seem to lack the social and language skills needed to initiate or maintain age-mate relationships. Some have personal characteristics or personal styles that keep them isolated or contribute to rejection from peers, and have no idea that their own behavior is part of the problem. For example, children with an autistic disorder are impaired in their ability to interact with others, often preferring solitary, repetitive activities. They need support in order to participate in social games or activities. While children with a diagnosis of ADHD may be quite social and interested in peers, their low frustration tolerance, impulsivity, temper outbursts, and bossiness are qualities that often interfere with friendships. Unfortunately, children with special needs are the least preferred partners of children with more typical development, and are sometimes humiliated, harassed and deliberately excluded, or even the victims of bullies. Many of these children are clearly in need of specialized intervention if they are to have success with peer friends. (http://specialchildren.about.com/od/gettingadiagnosis/p/whatare.htm Children with Downs Syndrome typically develop speaking skills at a later time than other children. Sign language has the benefit of making gestures that often look like what is being represented. This is a major factor in its effectiveness with children who have developmental disabilities.

Here, child sign language can be used as a critical language development tool for children with special needs. Children who have developed in the typical fashion have learned to speak by 3 years old. Of course some children have physical, emotional or mental problems that delay language development. These problems may include deafness or some level of loss of hearing, developmental disabilities or oral skills difficulties due to a variety of reasons. But children with deafness or developmental disabilities need to learn how to communicate just like any other child. These babies and children have needs and wants and desires just like other children. Baby Sign Language can provide the means to open the world of communication. Child Sign Language is also wonderful for developing language skills in children with autism or speech impaired children. Children who have throat surgery or problems during the time they would normally be learning to speak can be taught child sign language.One of the greatest advantages sign language can provide children, over 3 who have language difficulties for whatever reason, is the ability to teach descriptive differences between objects. For example, a child with Down Syndrome can be taught the difference between a real bird, a bird statue or a toy bird. This is often a very difficult concept to teach.Sign language improves literacy skills in preschoolers as much as it does in infants. This special language can be used to build confidence in a shy child. Mastering a skill improves self-esteem in children (under and) over 3 years old.

Kolodiy Nataliya (Khmel'nyts'kyi)