Children With Limb Loss
The teacher is an essential part to a child's adjustment to school. If the teacher is comfortable with a child and his or her prosthesis, then the rest of the children in the classroom will be comfortable as well.
One simple recommendation for parents is to be sure to introduce your child to their teacher before the classes start. You can tell your child's teacher about your child's condition and any accommodations that can be made in the classroom. (Hoek, 1995). "The booklet, Children with Limb Loss: A Handbook for Teachers, is available from the Area Child Amputee Center in Grand Rapids, Mich. This can be given to your child's teacher to help explain the various needs a child with a limb difference may have, and also to give basic information on limb differences and prostheses. The teacher should understand that your child may have to miss school to make clinic visits or for necessary prosthetic adjustments or repairs." (Hoek, 1995). A recommendation for parents is to let your child participate in every school activity that they are able to participate in. It should never just be assumed that they can take on every physical challenge the same as a child without prosthetics. However, it is important for teachers to be confident in the children in their classroom. Children know when they are believed in. There is adaptive equipment that can be made available for children with prosthetics. Teachers should discipline children with prosthetics the same as they would with any other child in their classroom. They should not be treated differently in the ways of discipline (Hoek, 1995). "Clinical psychologist Dorothy Strom, Ph.D., has some helpful suggestions:
(Hoek, 1995). |