What Are the Necessary Adaptations for a Special-Needs Child?

Children with special needs comes in all shapes, sizes, intellects and ability levels. There is no single recipe for making adaptations for children. Each child is an individual and has individual needs. The best way to learn what your special-needs child requires is to spend time with him and observe him as an individual.

Physical Disabilities

• The many different types of physical disabilities have widely varying effects. A child who is blind may require rooms with as little furniture as possible and no carpeting -- the better to hear sounds echoing -- while a child with microcephalia may be unable to walk, talk, eat or even breathe on her own. Also, a physical disability may or may not have any effect on the child's intellect. Treating a blind child as if she's incapable of doing anything herself makes it harder for her to gain independence. On the other hand, the child with microcephalia may require adaptations that include helping her with most things. The key is to know the child's ability level and give her the chance to try.

Intellectual Disabilities

• Intellectual disabilities are most commonly known as "mental retardation" but may also include other issues, such as Down syndrome. Many people assume these children will never be able to learn anything. However, many of these children are extremely perceptive and can learn if appropriate adaptations are made according to their learning styles and interests. Many of them are more talented physically and have an interest in art, sports, dancing and gardening, among other things. Particular issues faced by those with intellectual disabilities little emotional response, memory disorders and brain problems such as seizure disorders -- which can make them lose abilities and knowledge in time. All of these issues must be taken into account when creating the necessary adaptations for the child.

"Invisible" Disabilities

• So-called "invisible" disabilities encompass a wide range of disorders and physical problems, from Asperger's syndrome -- a type of autism -- to Lupus, a chronic, painful autoimmune disorder in which pain can come and go. Many times, no one would guess the child had any problems just by looking at him, and it can even take years for him to be diagnosed. Because the illness is not obvious, strangers are not apt to be understanding of why your Aspie son is throwing a fit in a loud, bright store or why your daughter with Lupus doesn't want to go to school. Adaptations for these children have as much to do with other people as with the child themselves. For example, giving the Aspie child a blindfold or headphones can help him avoid tantrums until he learns to control himself. In other cases, rather than create an adaptation, it might be necessary to educate the public about the child's illness. Invisible disabilities also include milder issues such as ADHD and learning disabilities, which can generally be helped with therapy.

Acquired Disabilities

• When you think of a child with disability, most likely you imagine a child who has always been disabled. But this isn't always true; children with acquired disabilities have a number of issues besides their disabilities that they may need adaptations for. These children are likely to suffer emotional distress such as guilt, frustration, fear, anxiety and shame brought on by their newly limited abilities. In these cases, the many new changes to the child's life can be extremely troubling, and she may need something to make her feel secure. For example, a once-active child with a spine injury may feel disturbed by adaptations to make the home wheelchair accessible and may feel more at home if a few rooms are left as they were. Or, a child who suffered a brain injury might be upset by having to relearn skills that are at a younger grade level. In those cases, simply turning it into a game or hiding the grade level of the work can be a helpful adaptation for the child while her emotions are stabilizing.