What are the challenges for parents of children with special needs?

Behavior issues can increase the risk of problems at school. 2 As a parent, you will need to be flexible, creative, and patient. Developmental disabilities can change your visions of the future and provide immediate difficulties in caring for and educating your child.

How to determine if a child has special needs?

To help determine whether a child has learning delays and or disabilities, they are assessed using adaptive behavior assessments. Parents, teachers, and other primary caregivers of the child are asked to accomplish a questionnaire. This is done in conjunction with other tests administered by professionals in a controlled setting.

Why are children with special needs removed from the mainstream?

Diagnoses like autism, Down syndrome, and intellectual disabilities often cause children to be removed from the mainstream. Quite often, parents become fierce advocates to make sure their children receive the services, therapy, schooling , and inclusion they need and deserve.

What kind of discipline do children with special needs need?

Children with behavior issues may not respond to traditional discipline. Diagnoses like ADHD, fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD), dysfunction of sensory integration, and Tourette’s syndrome require specialized strategies that are tailored to their specific needs.

Are there after school programs for kids with special needs?

The reality, though, is that the right after-school programs may be terrific opportunities for your child to show his strengths, build confidence, make friends, and discover new interests. Often, parents undervalue after-school activities for their special needs children.

Are there any tax credits for children with special needs?

Personal Exemptions have been eliminated. However, you will still need to identify your dependents on your return to claim such benefits as Head of Household status, Child Tax Credit, Earned Income Tax Credit or Educational Credits. The Child Tax Credit has been increased and expanded. The credit is now $2,000 per child.

What’s the hardest thing about parenting a child with special needs?

We want you to recognize the hard things about parenting a child with special needs, we hope that someday you will understand what it is like to walk in our shoes.

Why do parents undervalue extracurricular activities for special needs children?

Often, parents undervalue after-school activities for their special needs children. They may be more focused on their child’s academics or therapies or feel that there just isn’t time or money to bother with extracurriculars.