Special NeedsBy: Sheridan McCarter

Visually Impaired

Visually Impaired

Definition:

dim-sighted: having greatly reduced vision

Stereotypes

They aren’t smart

They can’t read

They can’t learn as well as others

They can’t see at all

Reality

They can actually be considered to be intelligent, they have the ability to learn.

They can read by using Braille writing.

They can learn just as well as others.

There are different kinds of blindness: -Color blindness -Ability to not be able to see close or far

Ray Charles & Stevie Wonder were both visually impaired and they still had the ability to do great things.

Hearing Impaired

Hearing Impaired

Definition:

hard-of-hearing: having a hearing loss.

Stereotypes

They have no way of hearing

Their not as smart as other individuals

They can’t communicate

Their learning abilities are different from others

Reality They have hearing aids to hear different sounds

They can learn just as well as any other individual

Hearing impaired people communicate by using sign language.

The way they learn is the same way any other person learns.

Hearing Impaired people communicate by using sign language.

Autism

Definition: A mental condition, present from early childhood,

characterized by having difficulty in communicating and forming relationships with other people.

Stereotypes They can’t learn

They don’t learn as well as others

They can’t speak

Reality

They can learn they just learn more slower then others.

They can speak they just have speech problems.

Down Syndrome

Down Syndrome

Definition:

A congenital disorder arising from a chromosome defect, causing intellectual impairment and physical abnormalities including short stature and a broad facial profile.

Stereotypes

They don’t have the ability to learn

They are not smart

They can’t speak

Reality

They can learn just as well as others individuals

They can be just as smart as any other human being.

They have speech problems but can speak

Wheelchair Bound

Definition:

An inaccurate phrase used to refer to an individual in a wheelchair.

Stereotypes

They can never learn how to walk.

They always need help

Reality

The have rehabilitation where they can make their legs stronger so that they can walk.

They can maneuver just as well as others without any help.

Mental Retardation

Definition:

A developmental disability that first appears in children under the age of 18.

Stereotypes They are dumb

They can’t learn

They can’t speak

Reality

They are not dumb they just learn differently then others.

They can learn just at a slower pace.

They have speech problems but they can speak.