Disabilities and Social Growth

Jennifer Martin

PS 340 Exceptional Needs Children

Unit 2 Project

How do you improve a child’s social skills if he or she has a hearing or speech disability? There are many ways that parents; teachers and counselors can help a child become more sociable when they have a learning disability.

Michael is a five-year-old male who was just diagnosed with hearing loss and a speech disorder. Michael is scheduled to start kindergarten in a month and I have been asked to develop a plan to help him socially since the school will address his learning needs. His parents are worried that he might be labeled in school and not allowed to participate in regular activities. It is my job to come up with a plan to help him socially and inform his parents of some things to do to help Michael as he approaches kindergarten.

Most of us understand that kids who have learning difficulties struggle with academics. What many parents and teachers don't realize is that having a learning problem can also impair a child's social skills and prevent him from having successful relationships with family members, other adults, and peers. The extent or impact on social skills development varies from child to child and usually depends on his basic temperament and the nature of his learning problem. Getting along with others in public places is as important as getting along in school, so it's crucial for kids with learning issues to develop good social skills early on.

To be able to try and help Michael we must first understand why it is hard for kids that have disabilities to make friends. First of all I will explain the medical side of it: There are parts of the child’s brain or neurologic system that allow him or her to have normal vision, normal hearing and normal speech; are also the ones that help control thought processing, memory, control of impulsivity and hyperactivity and allow him or her to interact with his or her surroundings and other people in a meaningful way. A child with a...