Is it normal to be afriad of people in special ed?

Question

i am in this club in school that works with kids and special ed children. after about a week i started getting really uncomfortably when working with the special ed. and now i am just plain afraid. i know its mean but i have a fear they are going to attack me or something. i dont know. is this normal??

Answer 1

sounds pretty normal to me. im bit scared by disabled people, but my best friend is deaf and my two uncles are disabled. If you feel that uncomfortable, is a special ed class really appropriate for you?

Answer 2

those kids are harmless. they are put there becuase they have problems and are slow. they will not hurt you.

Answer 3

SERIOUSLY STOP IT!

THEY NEED SPECIAL ATTENTION THEIR NOT HOMICIDAL MANIACS===IF YOU DON'T WANT TO HELP DON'T BUT DON'T BE AFRAID OF THEIR DISABILITIES!

Answer 4

this could be mean but its normal some are unfortunate with scary problems its normal

Answer 5

It might just be a fear of the unknown and you need to try to understand them better. Or maybe your fear is because they sometimes seem out of control/random. Either way do some research on the types of problems those kids are dealing with and once you get an understanding of how they work, you will feel better about it.

Answer 6

It's normal to fear the unknown. Spend time getting to know these kids. You will find that most of them just want what every child wants to know someone cares.

Answer 7

Your issue may be called situational phobia, which involves fear of specific situations, like being in the presence of children with special needs because of the uncertainty of their behaviors, which are not considered to be normative.

This is no different than any other fear of the unknown. What melts those fears is experience around students with special needs. The more time you spend around them the more you'll learn to prefer their company over that of your so called "normal" friends.

Answer 8

Yes it is normal.   Unnecessary, but normal.   This is still a new experience for you, and you're not sure what to expect.   Also, some kids in special ed can be socially inappropriate, and it can be hard to know how to respond sometimes.   Just remember you are in a controlled situation, the teachers are not going to let anyone harm you, and try to see some of these situations from the special ed student's perspective.    I hope this helps.

Answer 9

i think its normal to be fearful or afraid of things you dont completely understand.  My advice is talk to the special ed teacher and see if she could help you out with any of your fears

I work with adults and children with disabilities and it is very rewarding now...but when i first started i was a little afraid as well....just stick with it.  People with disabilities are people too! they have the same emotions and wants and desires etc......

Answer 10

i did but idk why

Answer 11

they might just be afraid of you as well... we dont know what they feel, what they see, etc... it is how they were born, noone can change that. My son is in special ed, but I wouldnt trade him in for the world... try to get to know the kids, on a one on one basis.. they are perfectly harmless, you will see that as you get to know them...



Oh, and if it's a thing that you're too embarrased to be seen with them, or seen getting to know them, because you may feel that your too cool or better than them, than you need help..   just my 2 cents   good luck

Answer 12

It's okay to be cautious, but please don't be afraid. Accept them for who they are and love their little souls. I am sure that some are afraid of you. But you can't judge someone just because they are in special ed.

Answer 13

Some of the special ed teacher scare me! The refuse to talk to anyone in my department, a different branch of special ed w/in our school, and they walk around with mean expressions. Big staff meetings they all bunch up together and talk about other teachers as if we couldn't hear-weird!

Answer 14

sometimes they may have anger management issues related to autism and they could suddenly without apparent reason hit out.  

However someone may have stepped into their personal space (both physically and metaphorically) .

So don't turn your back on them.

At least you now know they are prone to impulsive behaviour.    Out in the general community people walk around and do sudden impulsive violence (and they've never been a special ed student).  They may be on drugs,  full of hatred, religious extremists. Or all three and a bit more.

Answer 15

Its normal to be afraid of something that is different for you, but don't let it stop you from finding out who these kids are.  They all have a heart and feelings just like you so don't make them feel bad for who they are, cause you wouldn't want anyone to do that to you.

Answer 16

Its not that you  are afraid. Your uncomfortable many people are. Its hard for somebody to deal with people of that sort if you didnt grow up with one. If you had a sibling or even a cousin you grew up with that had problems you would fell more comfortable around them. Im getting a job to work with people in that nature so I can overcome my fear

Answer 17

umm it might not be normal... but its funny lol haha

but iiiiits kinda meann

Answer 18

Its actually common for people that are used to being around with people with disabilies to be afraid or uncomfortable around them. But they only way to get over it is just by sticking to it. Depending on the child and their disorder, they are no more apt to be aggresive then other students. The supervisor should tell you some background of all the students.. their needs, some history, as well as if their aggressive.

I have worked in special ed for a while, and have literally been around it my whole life. My mother has always been a special ed teacher and while i was in MS i use to spend the majority of my day in her room. And in HS i hung out in the FMD room. Once i graduated HS i worked in a residential foster care for children with mental retardation and behavior disorders, i then worked in a public school in behavior disorder unit, and the FMD unit. While i worked there i have been bit, kicked, punched, smacked, had my arms slammed in doors, chairs-desks-books you name it thrown at me, i have had my nose broke numerous times, as well as been stabbed. But, you as a volunteer should never be in jeporedy of being in physical harm. If you feel uncomfortable with a student, talk to the supervisor. But dont just get away from them, as the supervisor or ther people who WORKS there to stay with you and assist you and teach you on working with them.

Answer 19

What you fear is the unknown. Individuals who are considered mentally or physically disabled (or for the PC n**i, "Special") are commonly perceived to be unpredictable in their behavior and actions.

Answer 20

Don't feel bad.  I am often uncomfortable around the mentally challenged, and my brother is Autistic.  I mean I am perfectly ok with my brother, but I don't know what to do around the other guys.

Answer 21

yeah cause you never know what they will do. i felt the same way but in high school when they would walk by me.

Answer 22

"Special ed kids" is a rather broad range of kids, some with only mild learning disabilities and others with severe forms of autism plus everything in between.  Does someone who is dyslexic make you uncomfortable?  You probably cannot even tell - perhaps the person next to you on the bus is dyslexic and you don't even know it!  The quarterback of your high school football team might even be dyslexic!  You are uncomfortable because the kids you are around are the ones who are physically different.  That is not unusual but what you need to do is see the person inside, the kid who needs a friend.  Learn to see past the physical appearance and you will become a better person.  Many kids in special ed do not understand personal boundaries - they get in your face and do not understand that it might bother you.  Help them learn, gently and patiently.  You will do a lot of growing up along the way.