Building an inclusive education-oriented, ICF-based and multi-faceted education placement service for children with special needs: policy, theoretical framework and methodology / 中国康复理论与实践

ObjectiveTo explore the policy framework, theoretical system and principles of educational placement for children with special needs based on the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) for the multi-faceted educational placement services and methods for these children. MethodsBased on ICF theory and methods, public policy research techniques, and educational policy analysis, this study systematically investigated the policy architecture and theoretical underpinnings for the educational placement of children with special needs, focusing on an inclusive education-oriented system of multiple placements. ResultsThe study analyzed educational policies, emphasizing the rights to education under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and UNESCO's guidelines on ensuring inclusivity and equity in education which encourage the provision of individualized educational support services and reasonable accommodations to enable the effective participation of students with disablities in education. China, the European Union (EU) and the United States (US) have enacted laws and policies promoting inclusive education, integrating children with disablities into the general education system, and providing them with the same educational opportunities as other children. The development of special education focuses on tailored educational services for those children who need additional support and resources. Policies underscore the need to evaluate the specific needs of children with disablities and provide individualized educational plan based on these needs. ConclusionBased on core content from the CRPD, UNESCO's guidelines, and relevant policies from China, the EU, and the US regarding the education and educational placement services for children with special needs, the theoretical framework and principles of educational placement for children with special needs based on ICF are discussed, proposing contents and methods for constructing a multi-faceted educational placement service system for children with special needs.

Assessment of oral health status of children with special needs in Delhi, India

Introduction: Children with special needs are considered to be a high risk group for dental diseases especially dental caries and periodontal diseases. Objective: Assessment of oral health status of children with special needs in Delhi, India. Material and methods: A cross sectional survey was conducted on 414 children with special needs belonging to four different disability groups i.e. Intellectually Disabled (ID), Physically Challenged, visually and hearing impaired. WHO Oral Health Assessment Form for children, 2013 was used for assessment of various parameters of oral health among the study population. Results: Of the 414 children, 305 were males and 109 females. Overall caries prevalence was 38%. Mean DMF value was 3.71 with ID children having higher mean than the other groups. A significant positive correlation was also observed between age and dental caries. Gingival condition was also worse in ID children and best in physically challenged ones. Highest numbers of trauma cases were recorded in visually impaired group. Delayed eruption of permanent teeth was most common in hearing impaired. 98.7% children required some form of dental treatment. Conclusion: Oral health of children with special needs was poor and urgent attention is required to plan a comprehensive dental health care programme for them.

Relacionamento intergeracional, práticas de apoio e cotidiano de famílias de crianças com necessidades especiais / Intergenerational relationships, support practices and daily life of families of children with special needs

O estudo exploratório, de abordagem qualitativa, objetivou investigar o relacionamento intergeracional e as práticas de apoio presentes no cotidiano de famílias de crianças com necessidades especiais. Participaram do estudo cinco mães, avós e irmãos mais velhos de crianças com deficiência, que responderam a roteiros de entrevistas semiestruturadas. As entrevistas foram analisadas qualitativamente por meio da técnica do Discurso do Sujeito Coletivo. Verificou-se que as avós apresentam-se como importante fonte de apoio à família ao dedicarem, inclusive, atenção e cuidado ao irmão da criança com necessidades especiais. O estudo revela um relacionamento intergeracional positivo entre avós e netos. Destaca-se a necessidade de direcionar maior atenção especializada a esses membros da família e para a continuidade de investigação sobre o tema.

This exploratory study based on a qualitative approach aimed to investigate intergenerational relationships and support practices in the daily lives of families of children with special needs. Study participants were five mothers, grandmothers and older siblings of children with disabilities, who answered a semi-structured interview guide. The interviews were analyzed qualitatively using the Collective Subject Discourse technique. It was found that grandmothers have been an important source of support for the family, because they are also concerned about devoting attention and care to the siblings of the child with disabilities. The study reveals a positive intergenerational relationship between grandmothers and grandchildren. The study highlights the need for directing more specialized attention to these family members and points out the need for further research on the subject.

La importancia de las relaciones tempranas y el apego en los niños con necesidades especiales / The relevance of early relationships and attachment in children with special needs

El establecimiento de un apego seguro es un factor que promueve el desarrollo y bienestar del niño y su familia. Es por esto que en este trabajo hemos querido ligar el concepto del apego con los niños con necesidades especiales, y el cómo las relaciones tempranas pueden potenciar su desarrollo motor, cognitivo y socio-emocional. Del mismo modo queremos plantear la necesidad que existe de incluir el apego como eje central de las intervenciones tempranas, lo cual puede realizarse a través del empoderamiento de los padres, entregándoles claves que les permitirán tener interacciones más cálidas y significativas, reconociendo el estilo y necesidades de su hijo, logrando potenciar su sensibilidad y la capacidad para regularlos y establecer interacciones que van a potenciar su desarrollo y aprendizajes.

The establishment of a secure attachment enhances the family and child development and wellbeing. This is why in this essay we wanted to bind the attachment theory with the children with special needs and show how the early relationships can promote the motor, cognitive and socio-emotional development. In the same way we wanted to stress the need of including the attachment as a core aspect in the early interventions, through the parent’s empowerment by giving them the cues that would let them have warmer and more significant interactions, being able to recognize their child style and needs, and as a result of this they can achieve a better sensibility and the ability to regulate them and establish interactions that can favor their development and knowledge.

Estresse e suporte social em mães de crianças com necessidades especiais / Stress and social support for mothers of children with special needs

O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar a associação entre estresse e suporte social em mães de crianças com necessidades especiais e mães de crianças com desenvolvimento típico, em famílias de baixa renda. Trata-se de estudo quantitativo com 75 mães de crianças com idade entre quatro e 8 anos, com renda familiar de até quatro salários mínimos, alocadas em dois grupos: mães de crianças com desenvolvimento típico e mães de crianças com necessidades especiais. As participantes responderam ao Inventário de Sintoma de Stress e ao Questionário de Suporte Social. Os resultados indicaram, em ambos os grupos, elevada porcentagem de mães estressadas. Mães de crianças com necessidades especiais contam com um menor número de pessoas suportivas. Observou-se associação negativa entre stress e satisfação com o suporte social. Discute-se que o presente estudo confirma achados de pesquisas anteriores e identifica o papel do suporte social nos processos de adaptação familiar. A associação encontrada entre a satisfação com o suporte social e o estresse aponta para adequação de proposições e implantação de programas de intervenções em saúde para famílias de crianças com necessidades especiais.

The aim of this article is to assess the relationship between stress and social support in mothers of children with special needs, as contrasted with mothers of children with typical development, from low income families. In this quantitative study, participants included 75 mothers with children aged four to eight years, with income up to four minimum wages, divided in two groups: mothers of children with typical development and mothers of children with special needs. The mothers answered the Inventory of Stress Symptom and the Social Support Questionnaire. The results showed that mothers of both groups suffered stress. The mothers of children with special needs have a smaller number of people to support them. A negative relationship between stress and satisfaction with social support was observed. This study agrees with earlier research findings and confirms the importance of the role of social support in family adaptation processes. The association found between satisfaction with social support and the stress signals the importance of health intervention programs for families of children with special needs.