What do i say to disabled children?

Question

I aim to be a educational psychologist and I am doing some work experience in a school with severly disabled children which is something I have never done before. I have so far been told that I will be expected to talk to the children and maybe walk round with them. I am fine with this as I know that they will be incredably sweet children but I also know that some of them are not capable of talking. I know that I will be assessed and watched and I am generally a very chatty person although I hate being watched as I feel as though I should be put on the spot. What kind of things should I say to the children just for some guidance?! thanks x*x

Answer 1

Be yourself..act naturally...do what you would with any other child..some may not be able to talk back to you, but they can sense your moods and behaviors, tone of voice or facial expressions....They ARE people..treat them as such...

Answer 2

Be yourself, treat them as you would treat any other student.  I want to caution you, they may not all be incredibly sweet all of the time.  I know this through personal experience and many bruises, bites, scratches, etc. as well as several trips to the med center over the past fifteen years.  Good luck.

Answer 3

Just act the same around disabled children as you would around able children. Just because they have some form of disability does not mean they are unable to understand what you say to them. You say you are generally a chatty person so you should have no trouble. Just be yourself.

Answer 4

they are children. special needs or not, just talk to them like you would any other child. good luck

Answer 5

Seems to me that the ones who will be assesing you should be telling you WHAT to do and HOW to do it, they are throwing you out there with no knowlege of what you are going to do.

Answer 6

It is not necessary to fill in all silence with talk. Greet them and smile. Comment on what they are doing or looking at (You are coloring. Tell me about this one. How do you ___? I like ____, do you?). Then listen and observe. Sit at their level. Ask if you can try what they are doing, if appropriate. Most teachers and staff talk too much and way too fast. Keep it simple. Keep it short. If they speak, reflect back what they said and expand on it a little.

Answer 7

!  They may not be able to speak or hear, but remember this...

KINDNESS, is a word the blind can see ,and the deaf can hear!!!!

facial expression and body language  is communication too,

so just smile

Answer 8

talk to them in a sweet calm voice like you would to a baby.  talk about things all normal kids like

that is so sweet of you

Answer 9

u should tell them that they are who they are for a reason.  other ppl who make fun of them or stare are insecure of themselves.  nothing matters but who u r to ur self and how u feel about ur self!

Answer 10

Be kind and understanding. Look for strengths the children have an encourage them. See if there is anything that is frustrating them (you will know by their behavior) and what you can do to address it.

If you imagine yourself having laryngitis and how frustrating it is to get your point across you are halfway to understanding how they feel.

Spoke clearly and use simple short sentences. Do not use slang as they will misunderstand sometimes. This of course depends on the child.

Good luck on your career!

Answer 11

just talk about the things you are doing and seeing as your walking/dong them, just make sure comments  are age appropiate (even if the kids are non-verbal)