Hear from one of our Special Education Educators about understanding disabilities and mental health:

“Working in the special needs sector can be daunting, at first that was me. Worried about how I could teach them, what I would be walking into, and the students, will they be receptive of me and my teaching?”

What is disability?  

A disability is any condition of the body or mind that makes it more difficult for the individual with the condition to do certain activities and interact with the world around them. It is important to acknowledge that “people with disabilities” are sometimes referred to as a single population, rather than a diverse group of people with a wide range of needs. Two people with the same type of disability can be affected in very different ways. Some disabilities may be hidden or not easy to see (Disability and Health Promotion, CDC).  

 

Challenges an individual may face due to their impairment:  

A person’s environment has a huge impact on their experience. Inaccessible environments create barriers that often hinder participation of an individual with disabilities in society on an equal basis with others (equity). 

People with disability experience poorer health outcomes, less access to education and work opportunities, and are more likely to live in poverty than those without a disability. They often do not receive the health care services (Disability, WHO,2022) 

 

Changes in Society: 

Improving social participation can be made by addressing these barriers and facilitating persons with disabilities in their day to day lives. 

Great progress has been made to make the world more accessible for people experiencing disability, but much more work is required to meet their needs. Yet, few countries have adequate mechanisms in place to respond fully to the health priorities and requirements of persons with disabilities. 

 

Knowing what disability is, I believe is the first step for educators to understand why these children are just as important to educate as any other individual. Anyone who is looking for a change and would like career progression should consider working in a Special Needs School. You can teach every student; the ones who are ahead, the ones who are behind and the ones with exceptionalities.  

 

 Click here to learn more about working in Special Needs Settings with anzuk Education.