A child friendly school for children with special needs

As a parent, you may wonder which school is the best fit for your child. This is especially critical when your child has special health needs. It is important to understand what points to look at when you are finding a child-friendly school for children with special needs.

Depending on the extent of disability and unique needs of your child you may choose from inclusive schools or special schools. Mainstream schools with an inclusive setup are also present in many cities in the country. Here neurotypical children study and learn alongside children with unique needs. However, please ensure that there are special educators/shadow teachers in the school’s staff roll. As they will skillfully attend to your child’s special academic needs. 

On the other hand, parents may prefer to admit their child to a special school. These schools have special educators and therapists. They cater to the academic needs of the child, while supporting the child’s medical condition.

It is important to ensure that the school you opt for attends to the basic needs and care of your child. Consider 5 important points when looking for a child-friendly school for your children.

How is the administration of the school?

Understanding the staff setup will help you understand how much and what kind of support will be offered to your child. Also, it is important that the staff extend support to parents as well. Some questions that can help understand the staff support are:

• Is the staff qualified enough to understand the needs of the children and provide appropriate therapy?
• Does the school invest in required equipment? Do they use the teacher’s aides in classrooms?
• If its an inclusive school, has the staff and students been sensitised about neurodiversity?
• What is the vision and mission of the school in supporting inclusion and diversity?
• Are the staff members supportive and responsive to the needs of the parents as well?

Having these answers ready is crucial for identifying if the school is ready to offer ample support to the child and the parents.

What is the general appearance of the school?

Understanding the school environment will help parents understand how comfortable can the child be in the school and what support they may need

• Is there a provision of a shadow teacher or a special educator if the school has an inclusive setup?
• If the child needs assistance while eating or for going to the bathroom, is the help available?
• Availability of staff- both male and female depending on the child’s requirements
• Does the school have special infrastructure like ramps, railings in the toilet etc. for better accessibility?

Is the school a safe zone?

The child’s safety should be given utmost priority and hence it is important to ponder over the following questions

• Is the school a safe zone ? A place where the child is relaxed, comfortable and in no danger whatsoever
• Does the school practice an open door policy?
• Does the school have a system in place to handle emergencies?
• Are the staff trained to handle emergency medical conditions?

Having an understanding of the extent of the school’s efficiency in such conditions will help ensure the child’s safety and well being when in school.

How does the school respond to your child’s everyday needs?

With the child spending long hours in school, it is important that the child is comfortable and happy in the school environment, where he finds the support he needs.

• Is your child happy at school? Does he spend time by themself or are they engaged in a meaningful activities?
• How does the staff react and respond to behavioural situations of the child?
• Does the school offer counselling to the child and the parents as and when required?

How receptive is the school to the parents’ involvement in academics?

Being an important part of attending school, the child’s academics should be given importance and as the school oversees the academic progress and development of the child, it is important to keep in mind that every child is different and may learn at their own pace. 

• Does the school have an Individualized Education Program (IEP) in place for the child?
• Are the parents updated periodically, regarding the child’s achievements or difficulties?
• Are the parents advised about home based interventions for supporting the child?
• How accessible are the teachers and/or therapists when parents seek help or guidance?

Working closely with the parents, a school can create a stress-free environment for the child, while giving them an opportunity to grow and learn at their pace, allowing them to have peers and friends.

Therefore while taking this important decision of finding a school, talk to other parents, seek their feedback.

You can also find schools in your preferred location on the Nayi Disha website’s service directory.

You can also see this video by Dr Padma Palavi on understanding how can a parent make a choice between special and inclusive schools.

If you have questions about Autism, Down Syndrome, ADHD, or other intellectual disabilities, or have concerns about developmental delays in a child, the Nayi Disha team is here to help. So, for any questions or queries, please contact our FREE Helpline at 844-844-8996. You can either call or what’s app us. Our counselors speak different languages including English, Hindi, Malayalam, Gujarati, Marathi, Telugu, and Bengali.

DISCLAIMER: Please note that this guide is for information purposes only.