Special adjustment is needed on the part of family members

Coping with a Special Child depends on:

Family Mythology – values & beliefs system of the family Family Perception – of special child in relation to their own image

How does a family with bright children deal with mentally retarded members?

How do siblings deal w/ an autistic child

Infantile autism

Intellectual giftedness

Mental Retardation

Adoption

Is characterized by a pervasive lack of responsiveness to other people.

Gross impairment in communication skills – both verbal and nonverbal.

Identified Patient - Magiting

9 years old

2nd in a family of 4 children

Therapeutic intervention : Neuropsychologist – neuropsychological assessment /

educational program

Clinical Psychologist – regular individual play and therapy

Special Education Teacher

Mother

Father

Therapy Team

Magiting’s growth & dev’t.

Extended family

Identified Patient - Victor5 year old boy

Middle child in a family of 3 children

Sibling rivalry between him and his big brotherExtremely aggressive brotherNo support from extended families

Group therapy session Regular guidance and emotional support for the parentsVictor began to improve

Identified Patient - Jun

5 year old boy

Youngest in a family of 3 children

Both parents were medical doctors

Both siblings were very good in academics Observed gifted at a very young age and enjoy school until 2nd quarter

Parents’ find out reasons that may influenced Jun to stop from schooling

Cannot commit mistakes because they were all bright

Did not want to go back to school and was afraid to commit mistake

Developmental Framework

Equal attention is given to the developing Child’s Physical, emotional, intellectual and moral needs

Viewed uniquely by the Filipino family

Regarded as a good luck sign – a gift from God

This is not true of other families

Depends on family’s

Collective self-concept

Parents’ self-image

Identified Patient - Emma

Eldest in a family of 4 children (all girls)

Father - business owner / mother – bright woman and an achiever

@ 12 was observed to be slow / condition : moderate retardation

Recommended for special school and group play therapy

Only attended play sessions / relatives would not approve of special school attendance

Atmosphere of resignation and hopelessness from the extended family

In the insistence of her psychologist – Emma was enrolled to special school.

How do family members cope with the child’s presence?

Identified Patient - Myrna16 years oldAdoptive parents – businessman / well known

designer Natural mother – family’s laundrywoman

@ 14, continually asked why her mother left her

Became belligerent toward her old sisters / cut classes and got trouble in school

Became belligerent toward her old sisters

Family sessions

Feeling worked through

Myrna’s realization

Myrna’s acceptance

videoSpecial Children from Adam Jennie's

Christian Center for Special Children Inc. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wkHbw5zg

SgE

How is an average child cope with a family of intellectually gifted individuals?

“slowness in understanding lessons” and for lack of motivation” in school.

Identified Patient - Marie 12 years old and youngest in a family of 4

children Had 2 sisters and a brother who were all excelling academically Parents complains : rebellious, insecure and incurably lazy Her counter complain: she would never meet her parents’ expectations / favoritism

She was beginning to search for an identity uniquely hers

Family counseling sessions

Marie “found her place”

More motivated and confident

Achieved more in schools