Special needs parents? Whatever happened to children with special needs? Who are these people?

I am so happy to brag write about this. Woohoo!
Click here to read my article posted at FilipinoMomBlog.

Parents expect a lot when they have their children go into therapy, whether it is occupational therapy or speech and/or language therapy and physical therapy.

Of course, they expect a lot because they pay a lot of money to be able to get these services for their children.

Here in the Philippines, parents/families of children receiving therapy services pay for these services, unlike those children in other countries who get these as part of their tax benefits.

Getting into these therapy services don’t mean instant relief and instant improvement of the developmental and behavioral problems that need to be addressed.

So what should parents expect during the first few weeks of therapy?

Below are a few observations I have made during the course of working with these therapists:

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This morning, Kuya and I went to visit a developmental pediatrician at the Medical City. We were a bit early and because he woke up only when we were just a few meters from the hospital, I bought him a grilled ham and cheese sandwich for breakfast. He ate his sandwich while the doctor and I are discussing what seems to be bothering me my objectives in having him seen by a doctor like her.

I told the doctor my concerns. That he doesn’t talk to the staff and therapists at the center where I am the special ed teacher but he talks to the students there. But because he is very observant, he asks why some of those who are older are not able to answer the questions being asked of them.

He is shy and would rarely speak with other people around, except for relatives. He still has to experience formal school and going with me to the center is the next best thing he has experienced for socialization.

His skills are varied and amazing and are not usually characterized by his age. He can read and spell long and complicated words. He can read short stories and answer questions about that. He can read all the words in the Dolch Sight Words, and even spell them correctly when he was just four years old. He can add multi-digit numbers mentally. He can subtract multi-digit static subtraction mentally. As well as multiply and divide mentally. I also explained that I just go with what he wants to do because he taught himself to do these skills, with me just giving him enrichment activities.

Aside from those skills, he can calculate on what day a certain date will fall. He likes gadgets: mobile phones, computers, PDA, calculator. He likes looking at calendars. He can also name cars, very specific makes, not just brands. He was also able to do a 90 piece jigsaw puzzle before he turned five. Oh, have I mentioned that he has his own e-mail address and can send YM to those who are online when he goes online. Anyway, enough bragging.

He was given different activities: mostly language-based activities, patterns, fine and gross-motor activities, problem-solving drills and a lot more. He was drumming his fingers on the table in between activities. He answered seemingly without thinking, very spontaneously. It seems to me that he was even challenging himself to be very fast and accurate especially when he knew he was being timed.

The Verdict Result?

Because he was not very adept at writing, his overall performance was affected. But not so surprisingly, the doctor said that he is “potentially gifted in the analytical and reasoning skills.” Some of his skills are those found in eight year old children.

He even scored 95 months in some aspects when his chronological age/level is 70 months. Except of course, his writing/copying, which I don’t worry much about. Around age 7, he can be tested further and thoroughly by a child psychologist.

This is of course puts more pressure on me and my husband to further encourage him to do his best as well as develop where he is not best, his social skills. At the same time, he should be able to enjoy the childhood joys and experiences which will make him a better person.

For the meantime, we will make an appointment to meet with the guidance counselor at my eldest daughter’s school where they can make arrangements for placements based on the skills and academic levels of the students.

(I’m so sorry Dr. ALR, I really wanted an appointment before the school year starts so I didn’t get an appointment with you because the average waiting time is 6-8 months. Proof that you are the most sought-after dev ped in the country)

My son Julian, in my opinion, has traces of giftedness, suffice to say his skills in numbers and reading are well within the categories of being a gifted child. Alright, I am not a certified psychologist nor a developmental pediatrician but working with children has at least taught me to recognize skills at par, below or above the chronological age.

At present, his age is 5.5 and he has NOT been formally schooled yet, just being taught by me and attending social skills, language and conversation classes which I teach. Anyway, he has an amazing ability to remember dates and days. Ask him the day of a date, he will tell you. There is one glitch though, he has to have a point of reference, like a date a few days/weeks near the date you are asking him. He has developed a pattern which he uses to extract the date from his reference. The pattern? Ask him and he will probably explain it to you if he is not too shy to talk (read: it is his secret). Whenever he sees a calendar, he gets excited. Does this qualify him to be gifted?

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Below are the traits differentiating the bright child and the gifted learner:

Too often we hear people say that they know of someone, more often their relative, as being gifted. Observations such as early development of the expressive language skills, early gross motor development, ability to memorize songs as well as commercial jingles and ability to predict the time of day, based on TV viewing habits. Well, I’m kidding of course, with the last bit but believe me, I have heard all sorts of explanation to justify calling someone as gifted.

Below are giftedness traits that I have read and saved in my files some time ago. (I am, however, disappointed that I was not able to save the source. Lest I be charge with plagiarism, I am coming clean.)

1. Superior problem solving/reasoning abilities

2. Rapid learning ability

3. Extensive vocabulary beyond grade level

4. Excellent memory

5. Long attention span without losing interest

6. Sensitivity

7. Compassion for others beyond age norms

8. Perfectionism

9. High degree of energy

10. Preference for older companions

11. Wide range of interests in great depth

12. Excellent and sometimes unusual sense of humor

13. Early or avid reading ability well beyond grade level

14. Superior with puzzles, mazes, or numbers

15. Is perceived as mature for age

16. Perseverance in areas of interest