Building Wisdom Network for Special Childs Development
Thaweesak Siriratrekha, MD, Child and Teenager Psychiatrist
Special Child means children who need a special care. This term has been later shortened and finally called special child. This term has broad definition covering all groups of children with disabilities or defects, gifted child or specific talented child including the poor or children with educational inferiority as well. Recently, when special child is mentioned, it is mainly regarded as a group of children with intellectual disabilities, learning deficit and autistic spectrum. Developing special child requires the collaboration of all parties involved as to drive caring process and to improve the quality of life. Special child issues are dependent upon not only individual responsibilities but also societys special support and care. Regardless of parents, doctors, teachers, neighbors, classmates, local organizations, volunteers, government sectors, private sectors, associations or foundations are all involved. If there is a gathering of all parties above to develop to be a wisdom network for sharing of ideas and continuous activities, special childs quality of life will, then, be easily upgraded.
Parents play the most key role since they are close to a child at all times. However, it is not the only their burden to have such a special child. People in the neighborhood should also participate in taking care of, encouraging and giving him chances to be able to get developed to the full competence.
Whatsoever, parents should learn and correctly understand proper guidelines about a special child, not take for granted the Dos and Donts, since life is not a game that can be replayed when getting lost. A doctor is so vital as well since he is a person who diagnoses, identifies what a child is like and advises how to treat and whether a child will get progress or not after treatment. If not, what is the next step to take? If yes, what to do next? This includes public health officers who will provide trainings, guidelines and information required for parents according to the expertise of each professional like psychiatrist, nurse, physiotherapist, speech therapist, etc.
A teacher is also important because he teaches a child to learn and understand several areas of knowledge and life skills. The teacher who can teach a child with disabilities to learn well is also good and highly competent and can create and develop humans to be real men.
If there is a teacher for special learning in school, it will held children quickly since he graduated in the specific area. If not, it is not a problem because it can be learned and understood. Knowing their strengths and weaknesses, a teacher can teach them thoroughly. If there is anything beyond the teachers abilities, they will then be dispatched to a doctor. Waiting for everything to be in place, it is too late since a child is growing up. A child grows while a day passes together with the loss of chance if he is not fully supported.
A teacher, doctor, parents is taken as a tri-pronged pin of wisdom for a special childs development. Lacking one of this pin, a child may be falling or lose a chance to rise. Or if one is shaking, a child will neither consequently be sturdy nor efficiently developed.
Neighbors are not merely far away or not related. They are extremely vital since they can teach a child to know varieties and differences- knowing that there is not only a child and his family but so many others involved. Neighbors can reduce parents burden as they can watch a child for safety while he is away from home to learn.
A child will sometimes make a loud and annoying noise. No one is intended to allow it to occur. Something is over controlled. Thinking this way will help reduce anger or annoyance.
If there is a store, teach a child to learn how to shop, pay and get changes. He will understand the names of items. This is another way to help him learn.
Classmates are greater important. Buddy or companion accompanies, plays and eat together will enhance faster learning as well.
Local organization is a key to direct community to foster a special child allowing all parties involved to perform their duties to the optimal care of a special child. It will also be able to allocate its budget and a facility for special children since human development is the foundation of all types of development. When special children are developed to their full potential, they will no longer be a burden for a community and society as well.
Volunteers, government sectors, private sectors, associations and foundations are necessary mechanism in taking good care of special children since they will be good coordinators, informants to public and creators of social awareness for special children.
It is considered that all parties related to building network of wisdom for special children are extremely important, even a main post or patrons are merely critical. Lets find our roles to take part in assisting them. Please dont just take a glance at them from a distance.
.... Day after day a child will grow up together with the loss of a chance if he is not fully supported just because no one understands him and prompts to help him out...
