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Children with a learning or physical disability may be subjected to prejudice or discrimination at school for the reason that they could be treated differently than the rest of the children. They may be bullied or ridiculed by other students which will affect their self-confidence and in turn affect their learning capabilities and development. Disabilities are categorised in different forms i.e. learning or physical. Learning disabilities which affect development could be.
Autism; autism is a developmental disability which affects how a person relates and communicates with other people and the world around them. A child/young person with autism finds it difficult to understand facial expressions or the tone of a voice. They can feel lonely and cut off from society as they avoid social interaction. This could affect their ability to development or interact in social settings or in the classroom.
Dyslexia; is a difficulty in learning to read. A child/young person suffering from this may become frustrated and problems could arise at home or in school, behavioural problems could also be seen, as well as the child becoming unmotivated or developing a dislike for school. If dyslexia is undetected then this will affect their development at school and could spoil any chance of achievement.
Physical disabilities could include.
Cerebral palsy; cerebral palsy is a condition which affects the movement, posture and co-ordination of a person. A child/young person with this disability may only be affected physically with this disability while others could be affected by seizures, epilepsy or difficulties with speech and language.
The social model of disability.
In the 1970’s and 1980’s a civil rights based approach was developed by disabled people. They rejected the fact that the problem lay with the individual disabled person but with society itself and the way it was run and organised:
• Buildings were built in such a way that there was no access for wheelchairs.
• Information was produced in a way that disabled people could not use.
• Attitudes and stereotypes about a disabled person prohibited a disabled person from having the same opportunities as an able bodied person.
• Special services were created that kept disabled people segregated and cut off from everybody.
Equality could then be achieved by:
• Constructing accessible buildings.
• Producing information in different ways.
• Challenging stereotypes.
• Ending services that were segregated.
• A disabled person having full civil rights under law.
The medical model of disability.
Under this model a disabled person was defined by their illness or medical condition. If they did not fit into society then they were institutionalised or kept isolated at home. A disabled person had no options over:
• What school they attended.
• What support they received.
• If they were allowed to work or not.
• What kind of work they could do.
Building designs were not accessible for wheelchairs therefore hindered aspects of social interaction, i.e. work, entertainment, school, transport, higher education and family.
3.4 Explain how disability may affect development
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