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Daycare Center and Family Home Forum>Advice - Special Needs Child
Unregistered 09:39 PM 04-12-2011
I recently started working in a daycare part-time. After I was interviewed and hired, the supervisor received a new child, a special needs child - an 8 yr old boy. I wasn't aware that the center took on special needs children & I personally have little experience working with them. His mother and my supervisor are aware with this and okay with it as they are trying to bring the child away from his special needs care. I can understand that. However, besides the advice they have given me, what advice do you all as experienced providers have for me? I have spoken to a few people about the situation and I keep getting different answers - granted, they are all PARENTS so opinions differ as will all of yours, but I'd still love to hear your advice.

Also, I'm not scared of the "challenges" I have been warned about and am actually eager to learn. I'm not really interested in hearing that I shouldn't be working with this child or anything like that because I wouldn't have been hired if my supervisor and the child's mother didn't feel I was qualified in general. I'm optimistic as are they!
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Unregistered 10:23 PM 04-12-2011
I forgot to mention he has mild to severe autism. I'm unfamiliar with any other health issues he has as it's not really my business as I am only a part-time assistant mostly there to watch over the children as parents come for pick ups/ drop offs or for field trips. He keeps to himself, knows some sign language but is learning to speak, and spends most of the time walking around the house pressing buttons and looking through books. He likes to be in control which makes things difficult for me sometimes (he tries to "escape" from the center which is gated). I also know some sign language but am not supposed to use it with him because his mother wants him to speak.

I forgot to include the above information in my original post . Thank you!
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Michael 10:39 PM 04-12-2011
Some threads on Special Needs: https://www.daycare.com/forum/tags.p...=special+needs

Threads on Autism: https://www.daycare.com/forum/tags.php?tag=autism
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Unregistered 10:42 PM 04-12-2011
Originally Posted by Michael:
Some threads on Special Needs: https://www.daycare.com/forum/tags.p...=special+needs

Threads on Autism: https://www.daycare.com/forum/tags.php?tag=autism
I have read through these, but thank you.
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Evansmom 06:39 AM 04-13-2011
I don't have any advice from personal experience but I applaud you for being open to taking on this opportunity to expand your knowledge about special needs. I've often thought I'd like to go back to school to learn to be a physical therapist for children with Down Syndrome or Autism. I find it all very interesting and challenging.

I guess if I were you I would start with reading everything I could on Autisim. The website Autisim Speaks is a good place to start. This way you could read about some common behaviors (like the escapism) and maybe find links on how to handle them.

Good luck to you.
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Blackcat31 07:47 AM 04-13-2011
Clear and open communication with the mother and the teacher about the child's disability. Learn as much as you can. Here is another really useful web-site for autism.....http://tinsnips.org/
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Tags:autism, new assistant, special needs
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