Disability Resource Directory - Orange County

Children with Disabilities
or Special Needs
Some General Ideas to Help Them and
Characteristics of Special Disabilities
Disabilities often are not recognized at
birth but become noticeable as a child
grows he/she will begin to exhibit some
type of developmental delay over time.
Parents and child care providers are often
the first to notice.
Occasionally you might be asked to care
for a child with a disability. Children
with disabilities are like all children. They
need to be physically comfortable, feel
loved and secure, and have opportunities
to play that help the body and mind
grow and develop. Existing toys and
equipment usually are adequate or easily
adapted to their needs. Often, these
children are not so different. They need
more time to learn and practice skills; they
need more praise and encouragement to
gain the skills typical for their age group.
General Ideas to Help Children with
Special Needs
Modify Toys. Regular toys can be
modified or changed to suit special
need. Fox example, a child may have
difficulty with stacking rings. Simplify
the game by removing every other ring.
Set Goals. Goals should be simple and
should match the abilities of the child. For
instance, choose a goal to get the child to
point at a toy rather than to get the child
to talk. How did the child respond?
Make Slight Changes in the Environment.
A child with poor vision will benefit from
a room that is kept constant, that is,
don’t move furniture each day, leave it so
that he/she can move about. Children
who have difficulty standing alone can
crawl into cubes or barrels. They can pull
themselves up, hang onto edges or watch
others from an upright position.
Modelling Appropriate Behavior.
Children with disabilities are often
hesitant to play with others. You can
model appropriate play behaviors
by being a play partner. As the child
becomes more comfortable, you can
invite other children to join his/her play
activity.
Teaching Specific Skills to a Child with
Disabilities that Will Help Playing with
Others. Learning how to look directly at
another child when speaking or how to
say, “May I play?” are big steps for some
children.
Teach Non-disabled Children How to
Interact with Children Who May Have a
Disability. Children model understanding
and acceptance through actions and
words. Teach children specific skills.
Example: A gentle touch on the shoulder
of a child with a hearing impairment, or a
direct look while talking are effective ways
of getting his attention.
Look for Strengths As Well As Needs.
Provide opportunities and activities that
will support strengths. Don’t focus on
the child’s disability. Treat each child as a
whole person. Every child needs to feel
successful and capable.
Characteristics of Specific Disabilities
and How You Can Help
Visual Disabilities
Children with visual disabilities are often
delayed in their physical and motor skills.
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