SEVERE DISABILITIES
CARING FOR THE SEVERELY DISABLED CHILD
In deciding how to care for and work with the child who has a combination of
severe disabilities, it is important to evaluate as best you can both her disabilities and
possibilities. Especially in the very young child, this may not be easy. You must be
ready to see new signs and change your evaluation. This, in turn, may change your
plan for working with the child, so as to best help her to develop whatever skills and
responses are possible.
In evaluating and planning activities with the child, try to be realistic. Do not expect
too much, because this can lead to disappointment. But at the same time, do not
expect too little.
For example, a child with a serious physical disability who is also deaf and/or blind
may appear to be mentally slow simply because her ability to experience and respond
to things around her is very limited. The child may, in fact, have a lot more mental
capacity (or possibility) than she appears to have. It would be wrong not to look for
ways of reaching, developing, and appreciating her mind. However, this may take great
patience and creativeness by those caring for her.
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SOME GOALS IN CARING FOR A SEVERELY AND MULTIPLY DISABLED CHILD:
1. To help her to be physically comfortable, clean, safe, and well-fed.
2. To help her with positioning and exercise to prevent further deformity, and to
make caring for her easier.
3. To help her learn whatever basic skills she can—in developing head and hand
control, and in some form of communication. Also, help her learn to interact with
others in a way that her needs are met and her behavior is acceptable.
4. To make caring for the child easier and more enjoyable for those who are
responsible for her.
Much of the information and suggestions in Chapters 34 and 35 on early stimulation
and development may be helpful for the multiply disabled child. Look for areas of
development where the child seems to be most ready or to have possibilities.
Then work out a plan of activity, stimulation, and rewards that will take the child
forward one small step at a time. Some of the suggestions included in Chapter 40,
“Ways to Improve Learning and Behavior,”
may also help. However, you will need
to apply them with much patience and
repetition.
To help meet the needs of the
multiply disabled child, you will also find
useful information in the chapters on
the different disabilities that affect
the child.
Special seating and positioning,
discussed in Chapter 65, may help
the child to have more control of her
body. This can make feeding,
basic communication, and other
activities easier.
Special seating can help the severely disabled child
by supporting him in a position where he has
better control.
disabled village children