Understanding Different Disabilities in Inclusive Education

In our previous week’s blog post, we highlighted the importance of Inclusion in education and its benefits. In today’s blog, let us understand ways in which schools can promote awareness about an inclusive environment which supports children with special needs by providing information to the wider community. 

As a school, we understand our commitment to promote inclusive practices, i.e. build a culture where all our students strive. School’s inclusive culture begins with understanding the different categories of disabilities and their unique characteristics. In accordance with the Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK) in Abu Dhabi, the following list describes the categories of disabilities recognized as requiring additional or different approaches within schools.

(Department of Education and Knowledge, ADEK, Education of People of Determination )

1. Intellectual Disability (ID) - Intellectual disability (intellectual developmental disorder) is a disorder with onset during the developmental period that includes both intellectual and adaptive functioning deficits in conceptual, social, and practical domains (DSM-5) 

An individual who has certain limitations in their cognitive functioning skills, including communication, social and self-care skills can cause him/her to develop and learn more slowly or differently than a typically developing individual.

2. Specific Learning Disability - Specific learning disorder is a neurodevelopmental disorder with a biological origin that is the basis for abnormalities at a cognitive level that are associated with the behavioral signs of the disorder (DSM-5).
   One essential feature of specific learning disorders is persistent difficulties in learning academic skills. Difficulties in at least one of three major areas: reading, writing, and math. 

• Dyslexia -  difficulties in reading

• Dysgraphia -difficulties in writing

• Dyscalculia - difficulties in math
  
  

3. Emotional and Behavioral disorder - It is an inability to build or maintain appropriate intrapersonal and interpersonal relationships with self and other individuals. Some of the common disorders are:

• Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) -  ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder defined by impairing levels of inattention, disorganization, and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity (DSM - 5)

• Oppositional Defiant behavior (ODD) - Individuals with oppositional defiant disorder may resist work or school tasks that require self-application because they resist conforming to others' demands (DSM- 5)

• Anxiety disorders - include disorders that share features of excessive fear and anxiety and related behavioral disturbances (DSM - 5). Some of the most common anxiety disorders are separation anxiety disorder, panic attacks, phobias etc.

• Conduct disorders - conduct disorders include conditions involving problems in the self-control of emotions and behaviors (DSM - 5).
  
  

4. Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) - Autism spectrum disorder is characterized by persistent deficits in social communication and social interaction across multiple contexts, including deficits in social reciprocity, nonverbal communicative behaviors used for social interaction, and skills in developing, maintaining, and understanding relationships (DSM). Common traits mostly include lack of maintaining eye contact, restricted or repetitive behaviors and challenges with age appropriate behaviors.
   
   

5. Speech and Language Disorder -  The communication disorders include language disorder, speech sound disorder, social (pragmatic) communication disorder, and childhood-onset fluency disorder (stuttering). The first three disorders are characterized by deficits in the development and use of language, speech, and social communication, respectively. (DSM - 5)

Disorders of communication include deficits in language, speech, and communication.

Speech is the expressive production of sounds and includes an individual’s articulation, fluency, voice, and resonance quality.
Language includes the form, function, and use of a conventional system of symbols (i.e., spoken words, sign language, written words, pictures) in a rule-governed manner for communication.
Communication includes any verbal or nonverbal behavior (whether intentional or unintentional) that influences the behavior, ideas, or attitudes of another individual.  (DSM - 5)

6. Physical and Health - related Disabilities - An individual may be born with a physical disability or acquire it in life due to an accident, injury, illness or as a side effect of a medical condition. These circumstances sometimes affect an individual’s motor skills and physical health.
   Physical Disabilities include cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, amputations and spinal cord injuries. A variety of physical health disorders could be gastrointestinal disorders, cardiovascular disease.

7. Visually Impairment - It means a complete or partial loss of the vision of a child that affects their regular functioning which may be influenced by underlying medical or genetic conditions and co-occurring conditions (e.g., hearing or visual impairments, epilepsy). (DSM -5)

8. Hearing Impairment - Complete or partial loss of the hearing ability of a child that affects their regular functioning may be influenced by underlying medical or genetic conditions and co-occurring conditions (e.g., hearing or visual impairments, epilepsy). (DSM -5)

9. Multiple Disabilities - An individual who has more than one disability by birth or has acquired it later in life. It could be any of the above disabilities/disorders combined and comorbid conditions.

In our next blog, we will be discussing ways to identify students with special needs and the importance of early identification. We encourage you to stay tuned to this space for further updates and information.



References -

Department of Education and Knowledge, ADEK, Education of People of Determination:

American Psychiatric Association, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, DSM - 5. 2013