Understanding our special students

Autism

Asperger Syndrome is a developmental disorder that is characterised by deficits in social skills, communication, and unusual repetitive behaviours. It is sometimes referred to as “high-functioning autism.” The core feature appears to be the individual’s inability to understand the thoughts, feelings and motivations of other people and to use this understanding to regulate own behaviours.

ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)

Students with ADHD often have difficulty sustaining attention and maintaining focus while attending to lectures or reading. This can negatively impact their academic performance, beyond what is typically observed in individuals at a comparable level of development. They may also struggle with executive functions such as concentration, following directions, time management, setting priorities, and organising their academic life.

Cerebral Palsy

Cerebral palsy is a disorder of movement, muscle tone or posture that is caused by damage that occurs to the immature, developing brain, most often before birth.

Signs and symptoms appear during infancy or preschool years. In general, cerebral palsy causes impaired movement associated with abnormal reflexes, floppiness or rigidity of the limbs and trunk, abnormal posture, involuntary movements, unsteady walking, or some combination of these.

People with cerebral palsy may have problems swallowing and commonly have eye muscle imbalance, in which the eyes don’t focus on the same object. People with cerebral palsy also may suffer reduced range of motion at various joints of their bodies due to muscle stiffness.

Cerebral palsy’s effect on functional abilities varies greatly. Some affected people can walk while others can’t. Some people show normal or near-normal intellectual capacity, but others may have intellectual disabilities. Epilepsy, blindness or deafness also may be present.Mobility Disabilities

Students with mobility impairments require the instructor to be mindful of classroom accessibility and equal opportunities to participate. Depending upon the nature of the physical disability, students may need the following accommodations: Extended exam time / Accessible table/seating /Assistive technology/software / Student assistant for participation in laboratory sessions

Learning Disabilities

Characteristics of a learning disability include a marked discrepancy between intellectual capacity and achievement that is attributed to neurological difficulties in perceiving and/or processing auditory, visual, and/or special information. It is important to note that a learning disability is not indicative of an intellectual deficiency. Disorders such as dyslexia, dysgraphia, and dyscalculia are included in this disability category.

Down Syndrome

People with Down syndrome are born with an extra chromosome. Chromosomes are bundles of genes, and your body relies on having just the right number of them. With Down syndrome, this extra chromosome leads to a range of issues that affect you both mentally and physically.

Down syndrome is a lifelong condition. Although it can’t be cured, doctors know more about it now than ever. If your child has it, getting the right care early on can make a big difference in helping him live a full and meaningful life.

Down syndrome can have many effects, and it’s very different for each person. Some will grow up to live almost entirely on their own, while others will need more help taking care of themselves.

People with Down syndrome tend to have certain physical features in common. For example, they often have flat noses and small ears.

Their mental abilities will vary, but most have mild to moderate issues with thinking, reasoning, and understanding. They’ll learn and pick up new skills their whole lives, but may take longer to reach important goals like walking, talking, and developing social skills.

Mobility Disability

Students with mobility impairments require the instructor to be mindful of classroom accessibility and equal opportunities to participate. Depending upon the nature of the physical disability, students may need the following accommodations:

• Extended exam time
• Accessible table/seating
• Assistive technology/software
• A student assistant for participation in laboratory sessions

Psychiatric Disabilities

Students diagnosed with anxiety and depressive disorders may require sensitivity due to the episodic nature of their impairments. Depression may be wrongly attributed to inattention, irritability, and apathy. Anxiety may impede concentration and be characterised by withdrawal, fear, and panic.

Deaf and Hard of Hearing

Students with a range of hearing loss (from completely Deaf to hard of hearing) may participate in your class either using ASL interpreters, FM Systems, CART (Communications Access Realtime Translation), or a combination of these services depending upon the nature of your course.