Special Needs Schools
| Private schools offer superb facilities for children
with special needs. The comprehensive listings provided by on my
Schools:
Special Needs pages are an excellent place to start your search
for the right school.
Let's look at two special needs:
Attention Deficit Disorder or ADD defied diagnosis years ago. A child who fidgeted or talked too much constantly was merely considered a disruptive child. Naturally grades suffered, and by the time the child reached fifth or sixth grade, there were many deficiencies in his basic skills. Most schools were generally not equipped to handle a child who did not fit into the norm. Back then teachers were not certified to teach children with ADD. Often, class size prevented a teacher from giving the child the extra time and attention which he needed. Medication therapy was not commonly used. The net result of this educational scenario was a child who knew something wasn't right, but couldn't figure out how to cope with it. The attendant lowered self-esteem, and negative side-effects could only be counterproductive as the child headed into adolescence. More than half of the children with ADD retain some symptoms of the syndrome into adulthood. Therefore the earlier you can involve your child in his ongoing therapy, the better. That's why a school with special facilities can be so beneficial. Nowadays schools offer highly-qualified faculty and trained staff who know how to get the best out of your child. They are capable of ensuring a positive atmosphere in which the child is carefully retrained to implement strategies which will minimize the syndrome's effects. According to the ADD/LD Online Resource Center, "the best way to insure long-term success and compliance to treatment is to get ADD children personally involved in the process early". One of the best resources on the Net for information about ADD is Bob
Seay's site here on About.com. It is one of the most popular sites
on About.com, offering robust Chat and Forum facilities, not to mention
superb links covering just about every aspect of the topic.
Dyslexia
So, if you suspect that your child might have dyslexia, have him evaluated professionally and as expeditiously as possible. Then consider the advantages a properly equipped school can offer in treating this condition. The inclusive, communal nature of a private school permits constant follow-up and encouragement for the dyslexic child. It is not just a matter of meeting with a tutor a few times a week, as you might think. In a boarding school, there are countless opportunities throughout the day to assist the dyslexic and provide him areas in which he can be a success. It is this careful mix of appropriate instruction and positive reinforcement which will influence his later life for the better. To sum up, children with Attention Deficit Disorder and dyslexia can have difficulty learning in traditional ways and in traditional settings.
I want to hear from you. Please write me at privateschool.guide@about.com or post a note on the Private Schools Forum with your comments and suggestions. Rob |