What does the term ‘’special needs’’ mean? Terri Mauro looks at “Special Needs” as an umbrella underneath from which a staggering array of diagnoses can be wedged. Children with special needs may have mild learning disabilities or profound cognitive impairment; food allergies or terminal illness; developmental delays that catch up quickly or remain entrenched; occasional panic attacks or serious psychiatric problems. “Special needs” are commonly defined by what a child can’t do - by milestones unmet, foods banned, activities avoided, experiences denied. Some parents will always mourn their child’s lost potential, and many conditions become more troubling with time. Other families may find that their child’s challenges make triumphs sweeter, and that weaknesses are often accompanied by amazing strengths.In the United States, ‘special needs’ is a term used in clinical diagnostic and functional development to describe individuals who require assistance for disabilities that may be medical, mental, or psychological. People with autism, Down syndrome, dyslexia, blindness, or cystic fibrosis, for example, may be considered to have special needs.In an educational context, ‘special needs’ refers to unusual needs of students who may be physically, mentally, socially or psychologically challenged. These students often require special attention and even special learning resources to enable them learn effectively.More often than not, students with special need are lumped together with those who are not challenged in any way, a factor that snowballs their difficulties. For this reason, the ground is not level for favourable competition among students with special needs and those who do not have. Can you imagine a deaf and dumb student can be studying with normal students? I have taught such a class.Variously challenged students who are enrolled in ‘normal’ schools frequently dominate the bottom positions in class. This often ostracizes them academically while tearing down their self esteem, something that is more detrimental than it can be perceived or imagined. In the world that is highly competitive and where success is predominantly measured by one’s achievement in class the society is full of many ‘failures’ who fall out of the education systems that neither recognize nor decipher the unique needs of challenged students. Many are untapped talents inherent in the students that some education systems churn out as rejects or residues. The dependency ratio risks spiralling more and more upwards if the burden of the needy in society is not drastically cut down by an all inclusive education system.It is absolutely impossible to adequately deal with the needs of students with special needs in an environment where they are compelled to compete with those that do not have any special needs. The only way forward is to establish and sufficiently equip schools for students with special needs.All teachers should also have some basics of professional skills for dealing with students with special needs. This can enable them to deal with ‘mild’ cases of special needs in their classrooms.Importantly, teachers qualified in special needs education should be deployed to exclusive schools for students with special needs. An open secret is that many developing countries have very few special needs schools that are either poorly equipped or sparingly staffed. More so, it is a fact that professional education training in special needs education at the university level is still a rarity in many developing countries. Governments and other stake holders need to put their heads together to fix this problem. It will first start with policy that will provide the framework for successful implementation.Education support groups and other non-governmental organizations should also jump in more forcibly and add an impetus to the process. A separate curriculum for special needs students full with a friendly evaluation system were needed yesterday.
