@Laurie, labels that will travel with them forever when all they may have is a temporary hitch in their development.

@morticia
It’s not a label it’s part of them whether its a big part or not and only by “labelling” it will you help it

Yes thats for sure

That’s a very sweeping statement Morticia. The methods and incidences of diagnoses have come a long way in the last 20 years. That’s why we are seeing more children being diagnosed with ASDs, GDD, ADD, dyslexia etc. A label and the required interventions at the right time certainly trumps a child not being able to realise the full of their potential and function well in this world as an adult. Everyone remembers at least one child in their class who was always on the margins and not included because they were ‘odd’ or didn’t learn in the way the curriculum demanded. These children never had a chance and usually left school early, with no qualifications at best. At worst, I know one exceptionally intelligent boy who has spent most of his adult life involved with psychiatric services. Wasted talents.
Anyway, labels can be peeled off.

A temporary hitch? Do you think a temporary hitch would be given such tailored treatment? It’s so hard for many parents to get a diagnosis for their which will open doors to interventions that most gladly welcome labels. It’s mostly people who don’t have a clue that make statements about having labels and that being a bad thing. These children no matter what their special need are not suited to mainstream learning and are entitled to be educated in the way they learn best. Some children transition to mainstream and many more never do. Please don’t talk about things you know little about

And how will we find out about this new ideology if we follow your advice to “Please don’t talk about things you know little about” ?

Well you could try Informing yourself before making sweeping statements . Lots of literature out there on the subject. Ill informed comments from those who feel the need to chime in regardless without any knowledge on the subject especially in relation to ones children will no doubt provoke a reaction.

OK lets start again. Are too many children being put in this ‘special needs’ category ? What is the criteria for claiming that a child has special needs

A special need is based on the diagnosis of a team of professionals usually. Psychologist speech and language therapist physio and so on depending on the child’s needs. It’s not something you claim . It’s something that you have to do for the benefit of your child so they can the resources they need to enable them to learn in the way they do best. There are a wide range of special needs out there and the diagnostic criteria is different for each. No parent in The world wants there child to have a special need or a disability . For most its a hard road to get a diagnosis and /or services for their child. It’s never something embarked upon lightly. So if your child has a difficulty in learning or development that needs addressing you just push ahead and get them everything you can in your power to help them. So no there are not too many kids in this category in fact due to red tape staff shortages and reduced funding there are very many more kids out there without their official diagnosis . Which likely means they can’t access the educational supports they need. It’s a big subject and there is lots of Info out there on the web

Good explanation Catherine.

Very well said but there are some people out there who have mild development issues and need some extra help in school say but you all know well how labels stay with that person for ever even if they don’t need help any more I think that is what she means about it

You even asked it yourself did we all remember someone falling through the cracks in school. So just proves that we all knew someone cause they stood out they were different in someway

Thank you ladies for your comments, I asked the thorny question because so many of our efforts to improve the lives of people in this tin-pot country are abused. I have very little faith in the ‘experts’ who meddle so much in folks lives and tend to question the methods and motivations especially when you dig down and find that the expert has done a six week course somewhere or other. Laurie has hit on the point I raised regarding mild development issues because I knew some familes who had children whose ‘problems’ vanished in a matter of months and I wonder if they had gone into the system would they have been stigmatised down the line because of this? It is astonishing to see the amount of information stored on people and how easy it is to gain access to it.

Well put

With the greatest of respect I sense you have never been down this path with a child of your own? If you have you would understand it is a very long process full of red tape and even longer waiting lists. No child is diagnosed who display only temporary issues / problematic behaviour etc. However early intervention DOES hugely help with these behaviours as well as the child’s development and potential. Every parent (whether their child has special needs or not) wants their child to reach their own potential and be an accepted and happy person, be it in school or later in life in the workplace etc. These services are vital for children with special needs. Often it is a relief when they are diagnosed as finally some help and resources are available after a long hard battle to get to that point.

“Often it is a relief when they are diagnosed as finally some help and resources are available after a long hard battle to get to that point.”
That long hard battle excludes the temporary difficulties that children often experience. I fought a short sharp one many years ago when I realised that I was dealing with [less said the better] and paid for a visit to a consultant who sorted things out in jig time

Morticia, the only person confusing ‘temporary glitches’ and longterm, permanent special needs is you. I’m sure there are many parents out there who wish their child’s challenges could be sorted out with a quick visit to a consultant. The truth is staring them in the face every day and keeping them from their sleep every night. It has them fighting like dogs for every measly scrap they can get to improve their childrens’ lives. It has raised their stress levels and alienated them from friends and family.

Do not come here and make little of the lives of others and question the diagnoses they have had to fight tooth and nail for. Not because it was ‘cool’ or they needed the attention or someone who had done a six-week course told them to. Because there was something wrong with their child and it wasn’t going away and it still hasn’t gone away. Ok?

You have high jacked this article for your own kicks and upset people by belittling the decisions they have made for their precious children. You must have little to do.

Thank you Denise for failing to see the point I am making. I have not come here to ‘make little of the lives of others and question the diagnoses they have had to fight tooth and nail for” Your attack on me is unwarrented.Calm down and look outside of your own problem

Morticia, are you for real?

You have made your point. Over and over again. We get it.

You however, don’t seem to get anyone else’s even after detailed explanations.

You continue to apply your own limited experience and cynicism to the experiences of parents with genuine problems. Go troll somewhere else.

Well said Denise

I know that Catherine but this article is about dedicated classes in mainstream schools.