How To Be With Special Children

Many of us are uncomfortable with people who are different from us. Children who suffer from developmental or physical disabilities, or who are intellectually challenged, are difficult to understand when you first interact with them. You may have noticed this in your visits to institutions for special children.

What we need to do is to increase our sensitivity to these “differently-abled” persons. Do not show your compassion or pity because they cannot do some of the activities we can. Do not talk about their disability in their presence (they can “hear”, and even if they are deaf, they can understand your body language). Do not presume that you can intrude on their privacy. Show genuine interest in befriending them, and treat them as you would treat any other so-called “normal” child. If you need more learning about their specific disabilities, find out from books, experts, or Banjara, but do not ask questions in their presence. Let them feel that they are no different, for indeed at the emotional level, they aren’t. Thanks.