Dealing with Special Needs Kids
I've had deaf students come in for testing, and it's all fine and well because they usually have someone to translate... that and I can always write something out and I have sheets that tell them how to take the test without me saying a word. I've worked with students who had a facial tick, couldn't control their body movements and some mental disorders and I felt like I treated them decently. But what happens when you get someone who is a bit slower? I've been told before that there were special needs students comming in (when it might effect how long they take the test)... today I had no clue! I felt so horrible too! 
I thought at first that he might have a lisp or something... so I didn't think much of it... then it started becoming aparent that he was special needs. I wanted to find the person who scheduled him to me and beat them to death for not saying something on the shedule! I wish I could've prepared myself more for something like this. When I talked to him - I didn't want to talk to him like he was stupid - but I had this aweful feeling that I was. I tut-tuted him for being late before I realized. On top of getting here late he took 20 minutes to fill out his name, date etc. He left things blank anyway - so I just filled them in for him. If it would have been earlier I would have given him the chance to do it himself. I couldn't do that because he needs extra time to finish his test...
However... I have to get him in 30 minutes - they tell me to give special needs students extra time - but because they sheduled him so late in the day I cannot give him a whole lot of extra time to do what he needs to do.  It just makes me mad that they did this to him. I cannot stay late either... because my job shedule is very ridgid and I don't get paid if I stay longer. (Not to mention I would be all alone in the building). I also have another special needs student comming in next week - so I won't be able to shave the time off of the other days.
I'm just wondering how I should act I guess. Should I just act normal and chipper? I usually try to talk very cheerefully around all of my students - which sorta makes me think I sound patronizing to him. Maybe I'm just over-thinking this? Wha! I don't want to talk to them like I think they are stupid or something - because I don't think that at all.
I guess it was just the shock of not being told - I felt like my brain was full of fluff once I realized.  I feel like such a jerk.
Edit: Oops! Integra here! I forgot to log in under my screen name. I keep thinking that my name is the same here as on the cat forum I belong to. |
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| Hi Integra,
Marianne works with students who have special needs. |
| Integra, what kind of testing do you do? Who does your scheduling? Whoever it was should have given you notice that extra time would be needed and scheduled accordingly. It is not fair to either of you to be left short like that.
As the mother of a special needs son and having worked with severly disabled children for 13 years, the best I can say is be yourself. Once you begin interacting, you should get a feel for how to adjust your communication. You may need to speak slower, louder or in simpler terms but you can still stay your same upbeat and happy self. |
| im curious - what's your role with these students? Are you a teacher? if so, by the IDEA, they are required to take a test without any time limitations. I agree that they(whoever you were talking about.. im assuming - those in a school environment?) should have not assigned you with them so late in the day because when it comes to tests, they should be taken in the morning, or earlier in the day so that the student have all day to work on them... however with your situtation - you should express your concerns so that it wont happen again in the future.
as for the special needs student - just be yourself - be cheery and helpful- most of the time they will appreciate whatever you do... just dont take over their work as some may feel intimidated or provoked... you might also want to ask to look at their IEP or file before meeting them - so that you have a general idea of their needs and how to deal with it. there are 13 classifications of special needs - and there is no one way to deal with them.. but with a little knowledge of their disability/background info will help you in a long way!  |
No, I am not their teacher. I deal with placement testing for college. I was really ticked that someone just sent him in the afternoon... they didn't put him on my shedule or anything. It made me feel so bad because I wasn't prepared for him - and on top of that it was right before I had to leave. 
I also cannot see his files or anything before hand. I only have files in my office about testing and that's about it. I either depend on phone calls to schedule the students myself or I depend on about 20 other people (I believe advisors) who shedule them. Sometimes they erase names (God only knows how) and I don't even know they are comming... sometimes they don't even mention it at all.
Thanks for the advice though.  I was so worried about how to act around him. I guess I can try to feel out what he needs from me as far as instructing goes. I was so worried I was going to end up over-stepping my bounds and make him defensive if I tried to help too much.
I sheduled I him for early today so he could finish his test. He was happy with that anyway. |
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