4 chapter 1
2. In a small village in Mexico, over the years, the community together with its deaf
citizens has developed a simple but expressive ‘sign language’ using their hands,
faces, mouths, and whole bodies to communicate. As a result, children who are
born deaf quickly and gracefully learn to express themselves. They are well accepted
in the community, and some have grown up to become creative and respected
craftspersons. This village method of ‘total communication’ allows the deaf children
to learn a useful language more quickly, easily, and effectively than does the ‘lip
reading and speech’ method now taught in the cities. For children who are born
deaf, attempts to teach only lip-reading-and-spoken-language often end in cruel
disappointment (see p. 264). The ‘special educators’ in the cities could learn a lot
from these villagers.
Disabled children—if allowed—often show great imagination and energy in figuring out
ways to move about, communicate, or get what they need. Much of what they do is, in
effect, ‘therapy’, artfully adapted for and by each child.
With a little help, encouragement, and freedom, the disabled child can often become
her own best therapist. One thing is certain: she will make sure her therapy is ‘functional’
(useful), always changing it to meet her immediate needs. A disabled child, like other
children, instinctively knows that life is to be lived NOW and that her body and her world
are there to be explored, used, and challenged. The best therapy is built into everyday
activities: play, work, relationship, rest, and adventure.
The challenge, then, for health workers and parents (as well as for therapists), is to look
for ways that children can get the ‘therapy’ they need in ways that are easy, interesting, and
functional.
This takes imagination and
flexibility on the part of all
those working with disabled
children. But mostly, it takes
understanding. When family
members clearly understand the
reasons for a particular therapy
and the basic principles involved,
they can find many imaginative
ways to do and adapt that
therapy.
‘Physical therapy’ to improve control of the head, strength of
the back, and use of both arms and hands together:
(a) in a city clinic
(b) in a village home
Photo: Cheyne Walk
Spastic’s Centre
Photo: PROJIMO,
Ajoya, Mexico
Appropriate therapy helps the child to enjoy himself, be useful, and
take part with others, while mastering the skills for daily living.
Disabled village Children