Amazing Abilities and Talents of Special Needs Children

A few years ago, a young lady called Ceecee responded to a call for volunteers to help out at a care home for children with special needs. The lessons those kids taught her rocked her to the core and changed her view of the world forever. She realized that there was so much she, like many people, did not know or appreciate about special needs children and the unique gifts they have.

At that care facility, she got the opportunity to work with a wide range of juvenile special needs conditions, such as autism, speech delay, ADHD, Down syndrome, intellectual impairment, cerebral palsy, and Tourette’s syndrome.

There are many misperceptions about special needs kids, and it is quite sad that we don’t appreciate just how talented they are and that they can contribute so much to society if we allow them to.

Surprising Facts About Special Needs Children

High Intelligence Many well-documented children have been found to possess an inordinately high IQ that stems from a unique pattern of brain organization commonly found in children with conditions such as autism.

Some special needs kids have been found to have highly advanced skills like the ability to calculate complex mathematical problems mentally without the use of any device.

Extraordinary Memory Many children with special needs possess extraordinary memory abilities. This is known as working memory, or scientifically as hyperthymesia, also known as Highly Superior Autobiographical Memory (HSAM).

People with HSAM can remember far more details about their own lives than ordinary people and can recall specific dates and even seemingly mundane details that occur with remarkable accuracy.

Detail-Oriented Special needs children often exhibit remarkable attention to detail, even amid their unique struggles. This often involves paying close attention to identify and correct errors and having a unique ability to concentrate on detailed and repetitive tasks for long periods.

Remarkable Skills Studies have revealed many notable special needs kids who have savant abilities that include remarkable skills in talent fields such as coding, art, math, or music.

As a child, famous abolitionist Harriet Tubman suffered from epilepsy. Walt Disney, the renowned film producer, was diagnosed with dyslexia as a child. Thomas Edison, the most prolific inventor in history with over 1000 recorded patents, was almost entirely deaf after suffering from scarlet fever as a child.

These inspiring achievers prove that disabilities do not hinder greatness. Indeed they may inspire it.

Lessons to Learn from Children with Special Needs

All these powerful examples of high-functioning individuals who have overcome their physical and mental challenges are a reminder that there is more we can learn from those with special needs than we may think.

Ceecee does not doubt that she has been transformed by her encounters with these beautiful, loving souls and has learned many invaluable lessons like:

Her attitude determines her happiness

She had never been in a place with kids who give such genuinely bright smiles and are always ready for warm hugs. Anyone who has ever served those with disabilities knows the tremendous challenges these kids face physically, mentally, and emotionally. There were kids who had to take up to five different medications, injections, or wound dressings several times a day, yet each and every time they accepted them with a smile and “thank you!”

She has something to offer, no matter what

One thing that Ceecee found to be so profound was that these kids did not view each other with the same social segmentations that the rest of us use. In our everyday lives, we measure each other’s worth depending on things we have no control over, like how beautiful, rich, or well-dressed a person is.

Special needs kids embrace each other, view each other with the same lens, and constantly encourage each other. She found it refreshing to be among a group that could leave all judgments behind and see true worth, value, and ability in all their colleagues, whereas we might have only counted their weaknesses.

She can choose to turn her weaknesses into strengths

One thing Ceecee learned, was that each disability affects every person differently, but they all face significant challenges in their day-to-day lives. When they were born, some of those kids were given just a year to live, but they defied all odds and lived well into their teen years!

Now, whenever she faces troubles that used to overwhelm her, she reminds herself that she is stronger than she gives herself credit for and that no circumstance can determine what she can accomplish.

Seeking Support to Unlock the Unique Abilities of a Special Needs Child

There are many misconceptions about special needs kids that can make us fail to tap into their vast potential for achieving great things despite their conditions. Ceecee is grateful that she got the opportunity to see and appreciate the truly extraordinary side of these children that she had never known existed. She saw first-hand how important the work special needs educators do with these kids is and why early intervention programs are essential for children with learning needs.

By encouraging more positive talk about the great potential that lies within each of these uniquely gifted children, we can open up a world of possibilities for children who can accomplish great things.

Most of these children just need someone to look beyond their surface disabilities and believe in the greatness within them.

Ceecee has learned that every child is unique, regardless of their abilities and challenges, and that, as guardians, educators, and caregivers, our role is to provide the necessary support to create an inclusive environment where these special children can flourish.

Her experiences have left her with a profound passion for special-needs children. She now makes it her mission to encourage anyone with a child who has special needs to seek professional help early so that their unique talents can be identified and nurtured.

Remember that each child’s needs are unique, so it’s essential to tailor professional help to every child’s specific requirements.

Consider getting help from:

Special needs educators

It is important to look for professionals who specialize in working with children with disabilities, including special education teachers trained to provide targeted support. Special education teachers and therapists, who specialize in working with children with disabilities, can provide that support.

Seek guidance from early childhood development experts who specialize in special education and collaborate with your child’s special needs educators to create a comprehensive support plan.

Occupational Therapists

Occupational therapists, or OTs, can assess a child’s needs in relation to their environment. They are trained to address sensory issues, developmental delays, and motor skills challenges in children with special needs. They can work with you to make modifications to help children complete specific tasks.

Trained special needs therapists

Special needs therapists play a crucial role in supporting children with various challenges, usually starting with a comprehensive assessment to create an individualized plan for a special needs kid. This plan may include accommodations and modifications to support learning goals and promote success.

A therapist may recommend any of the common types of early intervention therapies, depending on needs, such as

• Speech therapy: This helps children with a wide array of communication skills and oral motor skills, like swallowing and speaking.
• Physical therapy: Helps children with crawling, walking, sitting, or standing using adaptive devices like walkers and wheelchairs.
• Sensory integration: This helps children who have an underlying sensory processing disorder, which is common among kids with developmental disabilities.

These services are typically provided at home, with a therapist working with a parent and the child. There is greatness in every child, no matter what their challenges may be. To get help, you don’t have to look far.

By calling the numbers at the top of this page, you can get access to therapists and other professionals who can help kickstart your child’s journey to greatness. Contact us today.