ECE 315

CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

ASSIGNMENT 2
REPORT OF A CHILD WITH SPECIAL NEEDS





EYDA AIKGZ
1804574








METU
ANKARA


For the assignment, I visited an institution which name is zel Argunhan Grup zel
Eitim ve Rehabilitasyon Merkezi in Kzlay, Ankara. I talked with the administrator of
institution and I got information about a child with special needs at first. Also, I attended a
session with her in group education time.
The name of child is Begm and she is six years old. According to her report which is
given by ankaya Rehberlik ve Aratrma Merkezi Mdrl, she has intellectual
disability in severe level. Actually her diagnosis is down syndrome.
She just goes to this institution and she does not go to the school. She spends two days of
week in the institution. In one of these days, she attends group session for an hour and in the
second day, she takes individual education from different teachers for two hours.
As one of her teachers said, her family comes from low-socio economic status and their
education level is not enough for taking care of her education, etc. Because of that, the time
when she spends in this institution is important and valuable. I mean that, according to her
teacher, Begms family just takes care of her survival needs and they do not attempt for
developing her cognitive, language or social skills.
According to her report, the education which she receives should include self-care skills,
language, speaking and alternative communication skills, social life and daily life skills.
During group session, there are children with different special needs and from different age
group. Depending on that, Begm was so silent and she was unresponsive against the
communication effort of her group mates. After her teacher gave instruction one time, the
teacher repeated the same instruction for Begm face to face. I mean that teacher came near
Begm and said what she should do slowly and loudly. When teacher was with Begm, she
participated the activity but when teacher left alone her, Begm gave up doing activity. I just
had a chance for observing her in group session so that I do not have observation about
individual session of her. For that, I talked with her teacher. During individual education time,
they work on daily life skills like tying ropes of shoes, physical skills like holding crayons or
they work on basic concepts such as colours, stuff (cars, chairs, apples, etc.).
Now, I want to talk about what Begm can do and what Begm cannot do alone in terms
of daily life skills. When the environment is not crowded, Begm gives response the calling
of someone with her name. She tells about her needs by using one or two words but her
saying is not clear. She holds big-sized objects but she cannot manipulate them effectively.
She is not good at holding small-sized objects. She has difficulty at opening the door but after
a few trials, she opens door. She washes her hands and face and she sometimes needs help in
toilet. With the help of an adult, she puts on her dress.
Secondly, I want to talk about the situation for her cognitive development. During
individual session, they work on basic puzzles or the teacher shows pictures of stuffs or
animals, etc. They also try to learn numbers, days of week, seasons, etc. The teacher has been
worked with Begm for a long time and teacher said: Begm has serious problems about
memory. She forgets what she learns about concepts. She can forget after a few minutes or
she can forget after one week. It means that the progression for Begms education is very
difficult and slow. Actually, according to her teacher, there is no improvement. Whatever you
say or teach is forgotten by Begm. On each visit the institution, you should start from
beginning for Begm.
Finally, I will talk about health of Begm. Addition to down syndrome, she is diabetic.
All in all, the child who I got information about has down syndrome, intellectual
disability at severe level and diabetes. She is very passive and silent. I believe that she needs
to get more attention and one-to-one interaction and education.