The role of family in curing and training the handicapped child (1)

Family is an integral part of cure, guidance, and psychological rehabilitation of children of special needs. No plan can achieve its goals but after we take into consideration the factors which associate with the family, its social relationships, and directions toward a handicapped child and the degree of accepting the existence of a handicapped child in the family and the impact of a child's existence on other children inside the family and his impact on the family cycle and its social relationship in general.

We can divide the role of family in the early stage of the child's life into five pivots with which we shall live through a group of articles, of which:

The trends of a family toward a handicapped child and the methods of treating him:

These trends take one of the following nominal forms (denial - concealment and justification - acceptance). However, denial and justification occupy the first place in the relationship of the family with its handicapped child. Then it is followed by acceptance and admission of the case in a later stage that varies in its period from a family to another. Hence, denying the case and trying to hide and justify it is a common point at most families, and the feelings of blaming should not be recalled because the problem is not in the delay of recognition but in admitting the truth in the proper time.

When the family accepts the existence of a handicapped child, it will win half of the battle for his happiness, developing his capabilities and skills. We should take into consideration the happiness of the handicapped child which shall not be like our normal happiness, because if we look at the matter from our view, we shall make him unhappy, miserable, and incapable of benefitting from his capabilities which Allah granted him.

A handicapped child can enjoy self-satisfaction if we follow the following:

* We should not underestimate his simple work but we should encourage him and consider the action an achievement that is worthy of pride.

* If we define goals which he can achieve and reach easily.

* If we help him in training which he can perform more than the things which he cannot do.

* If we are keen to repeat the piece of information and experience which we wish to teach him more than once by different methods, we shall alert more senses without boredom or annoyance.

* If we give him the chance to try no matter how much the failure is repeated, it is better to try even if he fails than not to try at all.

* If we are keen to help him to compensate his handicap through opening the gate to receive knowledge that suits his capabilities and needs.

* If we give him sincere kindness despite his suffering, he has many capabilities and possibilities which we can train him for.

* If we treat him as we like the society individuals to treat him, our attitudes and method can form the trends and methods for society individuals.