Submitted by crinadmin on
Summary: Lists practical steps that can be
taken to ensure that children with
disabilities can enjoy a full and
decent life, with quotes from both
parents and children relating to their
experiences and needs.Quotes from parents.........
Now I know he is not throwing things at me to be naughty but to
get my attention. This makes me treat him more kindly.
mother of a cerebral palsy child
The teachers fear being with my son in school. They are always
sending him home. Why won't they learn about epilepsy?
father of an epileptic boy
I am happy she has learnt to wash and dress herself. When I
say ?school she runs to get her bag. All the children love her. She
is so happy.
mother with a down syndrome child
Susan doesn't want to be pitied. She wants to be given the
chance to show what she can do - such as doing things for me.
father of a spina bifida child
I wish someone had told me about what causes blindness. My
child could have escaped it.
mother of a blind child
____________________________________________________
Understanding disability
REMEMBER: If you are worried about a child's development, do
not delay in getting advice. Go to a Health Clinic or the nearest
Educational Assessment Centre. The earlier the better.
· Disability is NOT a curse or a taboo.
· Look at the ability, not the disability.
· Avoid over-protecting a disabled child.
· Your attitude towards a disabled child is more of a problem than
the disability itself.
· Do not call a disabled child unkind names. It really hurts and
makes the child feel unwanted, unappreciated and unloved.
· It's not a child's choice to be born disabled. Family and
community members have a responsibility to see them as a
challenge - not as a nuisance or a disgrace.
· Parents of a disabled child need help and encouragement from
family and community members.
____________________________________________________
Whatever the disabilty you can make a difference
Accept disability is NOT a curse or taboo
Show love and understanding to the child
Understand that every child can learn but this will take time,
patience, practice and help
Teach daily living skills - washing , toileting, dressing, cooking etc
Send the child to school, a special school or integrating
programme
Do not get frustrated with the child
Do not hide your disabled child
Appreciate the abilities and accept the limitations of the child
Ensure the toilet can be used by the child without an adult help
________________________________________________
CEREBRAL PALSY
Symptoms
·Poor or no control of muscles in head and body.
·Body movements are jerky.
·Usually have good understanding of what they are told but are
unable to speak clearly.
·Epilepsy often occurs with cerebral palsy.
Causes
·Brain damage before, during or after birth.
·Brain damage due to prolonged labour, viral infection, meningitis,
measles or mumps.
·Head injuries in early childhood.
You can:
·Accept the child will take much longer than you to do a task, but
allow the child to accomplish it.
·Realise how frustrating it is for the child not to be able to
communicate his or her needs.
·Work with physiotherapists and occupational therapists.
Don't be frightened of me. I might look odd but I am one of GOd'S
creations and my needs are the same as yours.
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DOWNS SYNDROME
Symptoms
·Eyes slanting slightly upwards, small nose and flat space
between the eyes
·Short neck , short fingers, and thick tongue
·Metal retardatsion
Causes
Child has an imbalance of genes, being 47 instead of 46
chromosomes.
You can
·Accept you have to show the child repeatedly how to do
something
· Be patient when they are very active or messy
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MENTAL HANDICAP
Symptoms
· Walks and talks later than other children
· Has difficulty in learning.
· Can be irritable and aggressive.
Causes
· Brain damage at birth.
· Meningitis or viral infection of the brain.
· Down syndrome or cerebral palsy.
· Partial or complete deafness.
You can:
·Accept that the child is mentally retarded and therefore a slow
learner.
·Remember a task needs to be taught step-by-step
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HYDROCEPHALUS
Symptoms
· Gradual enlargement of the baby's head and veins on the head
due to too much fluid in the brain.
· Eyes looking down.
· Drowsiness, Vomiting and frequent crying spells.
· Stiffening of the limbs and fits.
Causes
· Unknown, but often associated with spina bifida.
You can:
·Take the child immediately to a health clinic. If hydrocephalus is
diagnosed, a brain surgeon will insert a"shunt" to drain excess
fluid. This is best to be done when the child is very young.
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DEAF OR HEARING IMPARIMENT
Symptoms
· Hearing a little, or unable to hear at all.
Causes
·High fever at birth, meningitis, ear infection, or a continuous very
loud noise.
· German measles during pregnancy.
· Premature birth.
·Injuries, especially being beaten anywhere on the head.
You can:
· Seek medical help if you notice a child does not respond to your
voice or a noise.
·Get a hearing aid for the child if partially deaf.
· Learn and teach a child sign language and how to lip read.
People treat me like an animial that needs telling what to do as if
I cannot think for myself or make my own decisions - deaf child
BLIND OR PARTIALLY SIGHTED
Symptoms
· Inability to see well or to see at all.
(Very few children are born blind)
Causes
·Vitamin A deficiency and poor hygiene.
· Trachoma - an eye infection spread by flies.
· Measles.
· Brain tumour, congenital cataract and other diseases.
You can:
· Wash a child's face and hands twice a day with clean water.
·Make sure a child eats green vegetables, yellow If fruits, liver,
fish, eggs, and drinks milk.
·Take a child for all recommended immunisations at the right age.
·Get early treatment from a health worker.
If Blind...
·Offer to read to the child.
·Take the child out to play.
·Help the child to learn Braille.
·Sometimes people call me "Kipofu" which means blind, but I am
Florence.
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SPINA BIFIDA
Symptoms
· Backbone of the child has not joined together prop
· Bump along the spine, usually in the lower back.
· Leg and feet muscles are weak and walking is difficult.
· Difficulty experienced in controlling both urine and stools.
· In most cases there is no Mental impairment.
Causes
· Not known
You can:
·Get a doctor to arrange the closing of the backbone space
immediately after birth.
·Provide and teach the child how to use crutches and leg braces.
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POLIO
Symptoms
· Paralysis, mostly to the lower part of the body which can last for
life.
Causes
· Polio is a virus which damages the nerves that control
movement.
You can:
·Tell everyone immunisation prevents polio.
· Immunise all babies against polio at birth, and then at 6, 10 and
14 weeks and again at 9 months.
·Accept the child is normal and just has difficulty in moving
·If their are visitors I am hidden away by my family. It's our
African tradition - child with polio
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EPILEPSY
Symptoms
Strange physical actions which also include sudden fits causing
the child to fall or move uncontrollably and sometimes foam at the
mouth.
Causes
·Lack of oxygen during birth.
·Cerebral malaria, meningitis, severe measles.
·Brain tumour.
·Head injuries.
You can:
·Know that epilepsy can be controlled by drugs. Therefore you
must take your child to a doctor.
·Tell friends that epilipsy is not infectious.
· Know what to do when a child has a fit.
For example:
·Remove anything which might harm the child during a fit (e.g.
fire, sharp objects).
·Loosen tight clothing.
·Put something soft under the child's head and lay head on side.
·Do not try to stop the jerking movements.
·Do not put anything in the mouth.
·Do not give anything to drink during or immediately after fit.
The first thing my mother asks me is "Did you have a fit at school
today?" Why can't she ask about other things child with epilepsy
____________________________________________________
Quotes from children...
Don't be frightened of me. I might look odd but I am one of God's
creations and my needs are the same as yours.
child with cerebral palsy
The first thing my mother asks me is "Did you have a fit at school
today?" Why can't she ask about other things?
child with epilepsy
If there are visitors, I am hidden away by my family It is our
African tradition.
child with polio
Even if I can't do exams, I still need to go to school to learn to
survive,
child with a mental handicap
People treat me like an animal that needs telling what to do as If
I cannot think for myself or make my own decisions.
deaf child
I don't like it when people tell me to "hurry up"
child with spina bifida
My problem isn't how I look, it is how you see me
down syndrome child.
I may take a long time to do something but give me the chance to
do it.
child with cerebral palsy
I feel unhappy when other members of the family are given work
and I am not.
child with spina bifida
When my family goes away for an outing and I am left behind it
makes me feel I am different from them.
child with down syndrome
Sometimes people call me "Kipofu" which means blind but I am
Florence
blind child
My parents are too protective. They should understand I have my
own life to live and enjoy.
child with epilepsy