Books -- The perfect disability awareness tool!

Written by Lisa Simmons


I don't know any parent or teacher of young children that doesn't believe inrepparttar benefits of reading to kids. Virtually all of them include "story time" in their daily routine. Books haverepparttar 111660 power to capture a child's imagination & take them on wonderful journeys. They also haverepparttar 111661 power to help them understand new things & to send positive messages. All of these qualities make books an ideal choice when adults are searching for ways to help non-disabled children understandrepparttar 111662 world of a child with special needs. If you are a parent or teacher interested in doing some simple disability awareness training, then I would offer these tips:

1. Start withrepparttar 111663 right story.

Select a story that your reading audience can relate too, but also select a special needs character that will be relevant to their life. Do you currently have a special needs child in your class? Do they have friends or neighbors with a disability? Do you know someone who could come & talk torepparttar 111664 class as a friend or guest about their own disabilities? Use your chosen story to help everyone relax. Young kids relate well torepparttar 111665 characters in stories. If you use a story with a positive message it will help set a great "tone" for what you'll be saying later.

2. Don't stop with justrepparttar 111666 story.

Afterrepparttar 111667 story, be sure you take advantage ofrepparttar 111668 "teachable moment". Talk aboutrepparttar 111669 things that can be more difficult for a child with special needs. Young children are naturally empathetic. They feelrepparttar 111670 pain ofrepparttar 111671 book character that gets hurt & worry aboutrepparttar 111672 fate of their favorite TV character when he's in trouble. Don't be melodramatic about things; just be "real" about what tasks would be harder for a child withrepparttar 111673 disability you are discussing.

3. Include a child or adult with special needs.

This can be accomplished by inviting an adult with disabilities to your classroom as a guest, including a current or former special needs student asrepparttar 111674 "star" of your discussion or as parents just takingrepparttar 111675 opportunity to introduce your child to individuals with disabilities that are friends or acquaintances. This step is important because it remindsrepparttar 111676 kids that this is real life, not JUST a story. If you are worried about makingrepparttar 111677 discussion awkward, then schedulerepparttar 111678 visit for a day or 2 after your story. This will allowrepparttar 111679 visitor to have center stage & giverepparttar 111680 kids a couple of days to think aboutrepparttar 111681 story & your follow up discussion.

4. Tell them how they can help!

If you are doingrepparttar 111682 awareness training to support a current class member, then do some pre-planning withrepparttar 111683 other adult involved (the child's parent if you arerepparttar 111684 teacher or vice versa). Decide together what support roles classmates can play. Will there be a transition buddy to helprepparttar 111685 child find areas away fromrepparttar 111686 regular classroom. Will anyone besidesrepparttar 111687 teacher be pushingrepparttar 111688 child's wheelchair? Is it important for someone to sit next to them who can help them find activity supplies? Kids are natural helpers & this is a wonderful time to ask for volunteers who like to help out. Just remember to talk about exactly what they will need to do & when they should do (i.e. only whenrepparttar 111689 teacher reminds you, every day after recess, etc.). For a more general discussion, it may be enough just to talk about issues like not teasing, ways to offer help respectfully, & different ways to communicate with each other.

Signing With Your Baby

Written by Monica Beyer


A conversation between my 18-month-old son and I is one that a passerby isn't likely to forget.

There have been countless meals at restaurants where my family has beenrepparttar subject of curious glances, stares and even questions from perfect strangers.

And best of all, he can tell my husband and me that he needs a drink of milk, is scared ofrepparttar 111659 thunder or wants down from his high chair, all without making a sound.

This seeming miracle of communication was made possible by American Sign Language,repparttar 111660 primary means of communication used for hearing impaired individuals. Withrepparttar 111661 help of Dr. Joseph Garcia's book and video Sign With Your Baby, I was able to integrate sign language into my son's life and use it as a means of communication, starting when he was 11 months old.

Through my 18 months of sign language experience, I've learned exactly what works and what may not. Here are a few hints to get parents started signing with their infants:

1. Choose a sign (or signs) to begin with. Many parents choose milk, more, eat, drink or a favorite toy.

2. Show your childrepparttar 111662 sign (or signs) during an activity (for example, during nursing, if you choose to begin with milk, or before dinner, if you choose to begin with eat).

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