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Please use the contact form below to contact Families and SEN. Set out briefly the issues you want to discuss with your contact details and I will get back to you:
Please use the contact form below to contact Families and SEN. Set out briefly the issues you want to discuss with your contact details and I will get back to you:
Education: The Great Equaliser!
Hello and welcome,
The following points have been expanded in the books available via my web site. They contain much more about accessing learning and the development of valuable skills.
Rgds Clive.
If You Don’t Do It Who Will?
Introduction
Factors often driving parents to place their children or young people in special residential, sometimes independent schools or colleges, are under developed independent living skills. Too often, mainstream placements and local authority services are not adequately addressing this area of need.
Meaningful Inclusion
Underdeveloped independence has a major impact on meaningful inclusion. When your child is young you can take him or her with you when visiting friends and family. S/he can then play in the garden or in other safe controlled environments. But later, can s/he ride his or her bike on the street, go to town unsupported or keep up with friends when out doing what teenagers do?...
Consider therefore the age related skills fully sighted peers have when compared to your child or young person’s. Can your child,
Etc
Appropriate Behaviour
If your child or young person does not behave appropriately when interacting with peers s/he will not fully integrate ...
These issues not only affect your child or young person’s integration and quality of life but they can also impact on academic progress and later employment.
No child or young person should need to leave mainstream provision because these issues are not being addressed.
Developing Skills Begins with Assessment
Every child and young person needs to learn independence skills in order to shop, eat and drink outside the home, socialise and travel independently …
Suggestion
Independence can often be best achieved when activities are designed to combine a supported learning experience whilst trying something new and fun …
Teenagers and Professional Support
When children reach their teens many parents find that professional support is necessary as a demand for independence increases ...
Emotional Wellbeing, Motivation and Self-Determination
The level of independence an individual possesses is often connected to emotional well-being, motivation and self-determination …
Disabled children and young people can encounter challenges which impact on self-determination. These include,
Evidence shows that many would like to develop independence but find it frustrating not being able to do so.
Meaningful Choices and Well-Being
Opportunities to make meaningful choices help foster feelings of control and self-motivation …
Suggestion
Having the opportunity to support others can also build confidence, well-being and happiness …
Building Autonomy
We all must learn how to deal with frustration and disappointment. However, allowing the individual freedom to make meaningful choices and learn whilst maintaining support can be difficult. For example, when out and about,
Etc
At times like these you, your child or young person may notice dependence, experience anxiety, frustration and even anger.
Mobility Training to Develop Independence and Confidence
Your child or young person may want to visit shops independently or with a friend. However you might not be confident in their skills …
A mobility specialist can,
Etc
During mobility sessions your son or daughter can also be shown more general independent living skills …
A Structured Programme
Independent living skills sessions can potentially develop your child or young person’s feelings of control. To best achieve this sessions should be well structured. It is recommended therefore that targets set are SMART; that is,
Developing Independence - A Few Suggestions
When the young person becomes older encourage him or her to,
Etc
As s/he becomes more independent, reduce your control over situations and allow the child or young person to,
Etc
Provide opportunities for her or him to make choices and encourage questioning but also make it clear where s/he can get support.
In a specific and quantifiable way encourage your daughter or son to take responsibility for his or her diary involving appointments, coursework and deadlines in order to develop,
Etc
If necessary, enlist the support of a professional to advise you about letting go and allowing the development of independence.
Three books available via this site address these issues head on,
AND SENIORS GROW TOMORROW
Independent Living Skills,
THEY WANT HIM TO GO OUT; IF ONLY SHE COULD
Mobility and Orientation: A Teaching Manual
THE WOLVERHAMPTON COOK BOOK
Cooking Skills and Recipes
The Demands of the National Curriculum and Developing ILS
The demands of the National Curriculum make finding time to develop independent living skills during the school day difficult …
Skills should be age appropriate and, after assessment, taught and practiced in the environment in which they are required.
Suitably adapted or specialist equipment is also required …
Interpersonal Skills
Age appropriate interpersonal skills should also be covered. Under developed interpersonal skills might strongly affect social interaction. Input may be necessary in the following areas,
Etc
Addressing these can be difficult. However, if you don’t do it who will?
The young person should be made aware, if necessary, that there are unwritten rules to appropriate behaviour …
Aspects of sexual health and sexuality may also need addressing …
All of this should be designed to ensure that a young person can manage his or her own care needs and make informed decisions.
Independence, Loss of Freedom and Autonomy
It is commonly believed that if a person isn’t independent then this represents a loss of freedom and autonomy which undermines the individual as a human being …
The notion of independence can be taken too far leading to restricts in the individual’s life … Consequently, the notion of self-help which is second nature to a fully sighted person might become frustrating to someone with a disability.
The fundamental notion of basic skills here impedes the quality of life and inhibits the disabled learner’s self-expression and independence.
Slowness
Disability can also make the individual slow which can be made worse if forced into doing something which is very difficult …
The helper is, in fact, restricting the individual’s freedom of thought and action.
Pressure and Independence
Closely associated with the pressure to be independent is the pressure to appear ‘normal’ …
Technology - A Mixed Blessing
Technological aids can be a mixed blessing too. Visual aids, for example, give the impression that a visually impaired individual is able to perform in the same way as a fully sighted person. When actually, low vision aids can make the person less efficient. When using the aid the individual is often slow, makes visual errors and is also less likely to be helped by others.
Independence Undermining Self-Esteem
Consequently, striving for independence can lead to frustration and low self-esteem and the over-emphasis on basic independence can rob the individual of true independence by restricting freedom of choice and action. Appropriate support, therefore, represents a very difficult balancing act.
Introduction
The skills most fully sighted children learn incidentally and by imagination are more complicated to learn for those with low vision. Families and professionals should work together from early years so that your child can learn and then internalise skills. This requires a comprehensive assessment and programme.
In The Beginning
Importantly, to begin, your child should develop effective motor skills, appropriate behaviour and an understanding of words like,
Etc
S/he should also know the parts of the body before trying to gain full independence,
Etc
Time to Teach and Time to Learn
You must have time to teach independence and your child must be given time to learn. For example, it is often of little use developing skills when trying to get the whole family ready for school along with your visually impaired child …
Therefore, not only should the learning experience be fun it also requires sufficient time to complete tasks.
Be careful though, a child soon learns to go slow so that you take over …
Dressing
Children often find it easier to begin taking clothes off before learning to put them on …
Suggestions
Choose,
Etc
Feeding
Meal times should be relaxed and pleasurable. However, in the beginning, eating with your disabled child might be difficult …
Suggestions
Etc
Also:
Etc
Avoid distractions; for example,
Etc
Generally speaking,
Later, share the occasion with others …
Conclusion
Strategies must be consistent …
Meal times provide great opportunities for the development of social skills. Remember though, meals are full of cultural conventions with basic skills learned over time and for many by sight.
Introduction
The level of mobility skills can, to a large extent, determine a visually impaired person’s quality of life. The ability to move around can affect the individual both physically and emotionally …
Two Fundamental Skills
The two skills necessary for independent travel are,
To develop the necessary skills mobility and orientation needs to be an integral part of your child and young person’s curriculum …
Aspects of Vision Affecting Mobility
These include,
Etc
Understanding the World
We develop an understanding of the world by moving around. Disabled children and young people who find it hard to move around can be severely restricted …
If children or young people are able to move independently their world develops. Through being exposed to a wider range of real experiences learning is stimulated.
Social Understanding
Mobility also helps to develop social understanding. It is in the wider community that new social interaction and contacts are made. Through this, confidence and self-esteem are potentially developed.
Risk Taking, Self-Esteem and Confidence
Moving around independently involves problem solving and risk taking. Assessing risks and taking responsibility for your own actions is an important part of development.
Moving around independently can also raise self-esteem and confidence …
Posture and Muscle Tone
A visual impairment can impede relaxed and quick movement. A lack of movement undermines good physical development …
Poor physical development also restricts the development of coordinated movement …
Early Mobility Training
Being born visually impaired can undermine the forming of correct body concepts. It can also significantly impact on developing a mental map of the world …
Mobility and Employment
Independent travel is extremely important in finding, securing and maintaining employment …
Introduction
When pushing your child or young person in a wheelchair consider the following,
Etc
Introduction
It is often primarily through sight that our understanding of the world develops. It,
However, possessing low vision need not be a barrier to learning as children have a great capacity to develop skills and make up for reduced vision.
What Can You Do To Help?
Your baby may have difficulty seeing how others move. Consequently, you will need to spend more time showing your child what his or her body can do …
It is important to give your baby warning about what is about to happen …
The smile in your voice will encourage and reassure your child …
Remember, the more stimulating your baby’s environment, the more incentive there is to move …
Compensating for Low Vision
A baby with low vision can compensate for a lack of sight, to a large extent, by using other resources …
Suggestions
Etc
Baby and Very Low Vision
Blind babies can appear more passive than sighted children of a similar age. They may feel safer lying down. Unfamiliar movement can cause upset and therefore may be resisted.
Your baby may need encouragement to change position …
A few points to consider,
Etc
Encouraging Movement
Encouraging baby to reach out for objects especially if the objects make a noise ...
Suggestion
Lie baby on a fur or shaggy rug so that s/he can grasp the fur and pull him or herself over …
Reaching Out
A baby with low vision may need to be shown the connection between sound and an object …
Suggestions
Etc
Try the following,
Etc
More Suggestions
Etc
Developing Confidence
Developing confidence will help your child begin exploring further away. This will help baby make sense of the world. These early experiences are vital for developing mobility.
Suggestion
Through bending, stretching, climbing and wriggling your baby is exercising and developing muscle strength and stamina …
Suggestions
Etc
Exploring Further Afield
After getting used to one small area in one room your child may then begin to explore and find routes around the house ... Remaining safe may therefore be an issue …
Learning about the house prepares your child for an unfamiliar nursery or playschool and then later a primary school class.
Suggestions
Etc
S/he will have learned to explore by using other senses too …
Suggestion
Let your child go barefoot where safe both indoors and outdoors and feel,
Etc
Safety
Supervising the use of a climbing frame may be necessary. It is important, though, not to be over-protective - a difficult balance …
The confidence to move about independently is gained from first-hand experience which sometimes involving an element of risk ...
Suggestions
Etc
Introduction
For children with low vision mobility is an educational necessity. They need independent access to the,
Personality, Confidence and Independent Travel
Personality greatly affects attitudes towards independent travel. Getting lost for some might be fun whilst others might find it upsetting …
As a result, simulating visual impairment is of limited use. If you are wearing simulation glasses and get lost you can simply take them off. For someone visually impaired, this isn’t an option.
Other personality factors affecting mobility and its development include,
Motivation
Motivation is a major factor in learning …
Transferable Skills
Mobility skills need to be transferable so that your child or young person can become independent …
Mobility Skills to Aid Inclusion and General Development
A mobility programme should include the wider community and involve your child or young person’s home environment. These skills will not only build confidence and self-esteem but also assist integration and help the removal of isolation experienced by many. Consequently, mobility should be seen as part of your child or young person’s general development and necessary for future employment.
Assessment and an Appropriate Programme
As with all targeted skills time must be made available for individual tuition in key areas …
Undermining your son or daughter must be avoided. Setting expectations too high will set a learner up to fail ...
Underpinning Skills
A functional grasp of the following is required,
Etc
Then, dependent on age and assessed ability the individual can then learn to,
Etc .
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