2. Introduce Child and Family
Sonia, a 7 years old
child who has Spina
Bifida.
Also has Hydrocephalus
Recently entered in
School age program in
Childcare Centre.
Family new in Toronto
Needs advice about
services
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es/2013/07/04/1226674/098662-
sophia-bush-2.jpg
3. Sonia and her Family’s need
Social and emotional
support
Physical therapist and
Health care provider
Welcoming environment
Teaching strategies
Information about the
services
http://www.mychildwithoutlimits.org/wp-
content/uploads/2013/06/Early-
Intervention.jpg
4. What are Spina Bifida and
Hydrocephalus?
Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus
Birth defect.
Occurs within first four
weeks of pregnancy.
Spinal cord fails to form
properly.
Three types.
Severe form is
Myelomeningocele.
Means ‘water on the
brain’.
Occurs when CSF unable
to drain from brain.
Increases pressure inside
the skull.
5. Causes
Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus
Unknown cause.
Genetic and
environmental factors.
High fever during
pregnancy.
Drugs.
Not having folic acid.
Diabetes and obesity.
• Caused by various
medical problems.
• Spina Bifida.
• Aquenductal Obstruction.
• Arachnoid Cysts.
• Dandy Walker Syndrome.
6. Symptoms
Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus
Paralysis and muscle
weakness.
Difficulty reading and
solving problem.
Bowel incontinence and
urinary incontinence.
Usually large head.
Seizures.
Eyes fixed downward.
Developmental delay.
Headache followed by
vomiting.
Memory loss.
Drowsiness.
Changes in personality.
7. Treatments
Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus
Surgical Treatment.
Therapy.
Medical Care.
http://www.spinabifida.net/wp-
content/uploads/2013/09/Myelomeningoce
le-repair-and-Myelomeningocele-
treatment.jpg
Surgically implanting a
tube called a shunt.
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ec0.pinimg.com/736x/65/05/02/6505025ff2
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8. Meeting the needs of Sonia in child
care setting
Bringing changes to the
Physical Environment
• Materials
• Classroom Structure
• Curriculum
• Physical Activity
• Use four strategies for
adapting toys http://extras.mnginteractive.com/live/
media/site207/2009/0503/20090503_
080421_SW04-TENNIS2.jpg
9. Teaching Strategies
• Giving instructions
• Give her time and
space
• Task analysis
• Use prompting and
fading techniques
• Reinforcement to build
self-esteem
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DqXBTNW0GfU/UIbd7Pgt1TI/AAAAA
AAAASM/o0XWBD_rxSs/s1600/allie.j
pg
10. Meeting her family’s need in
Childcare Setting
• Respect
• Involving parents to
know child’s strengths
and needs
• Understanding their
feelings
• Provide information
about agencies and
community resources.
http://www.perc.uci.edu/images/exercise
-training-children/gallery-
large/_DSC0590.JPG
11. Agencies in Toronto
• Program and Services-Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus
Association of
Ontario.(http://www.sbhao.on.ca/programs-services/care-
and-support/adult-support)
• Easter Seals Ontario. Helping Kids with Physical
Disabilities Succeed (http://www.easterseals.org/)
• Agency for Sports & Recreation-
Variety Village – (http://www.varietyvillage.ca/ )
Sonia and her family are new in Toronto. For this reason they need social and emotional support to adjust with new environment. Children with spina bifida and hydrocephalus will need varying degree of support and accommodation. They will be benefitted if they get care, attention and inclusion in day to day life. Sonia and her parents that’s why need welcoming environment in community life and also in childcare centre. It will provide Sonia the opportunities that develop her strong academic and social skills. She needs age appropriate curriculum activities and teaching strategies to meet her needs in childcare centre. Children with spina bifida often have problems with bowel and bladder control. It is important to develop a plan for going to the bathroom that works and is as simple as possible. So Sonia needs Health care provider who will help her to develop a plan for going to the bathroom. This can lead to increase independence, participation at school and at home to avoid embarrassment for her. Sonia and her parents also need physical therapist, specialists who provide care and consultation, because she needs to improve strength of upper body to help her balance, to move or transfer from wheelchair. Sometimes parents may find a child with spina bifida will affect their marriage life or they can feel stress. For this, Sonia’s parents will need a practitioner or services that may have given them information and support regarding this to overcome difficulties. Sonia’s parents need information of agency where they can get support in every aspect to overcome challenges.
Spina Bifida:Mobility symptoms: The brain controls all muscles in the body with nerves that run through the spinal cord. So any kind of damage of nerves can be result of controlling the muscles. Most children with spina bifida have experienced some degree of paralysis in their lower limbs.Cognitive symptoms: The problem with development of neural tube affect the development of the brain and lead to learning and other cognitive development.Bladder and bowel Symptoms: Most children with spina bifida have limited or no control over their urinary and bowel incontinence without appropriate management.Hydrocephalus: In infants the common symptoms are increase the size of head, seizures, eyes fixed downwards and developmental delay. I older children with hydrocephalus have headache followed by vomiting, memory loss, drowsiness, changes of personality. In the first six to twelve months of life, the diagnosis can often made by ultrasound of the brain.
Spina Bifida: There is no cure. Although the spinal opening is surgically repaired shortly after birth, the nerve damage is permanent. Ongoing therapy, medical care or surgical treatments will be necessary to help prevent the complications of an individual’s life.Hydrocephalus: It is usually treated by surgically implanting a shunt that takes excess CSF from the brain to another part of the body. There is no cure. But it can be a serious condition and that must be treated. If it is not treated it can cause permanent brain damage or in severe cases death. In the case of brain tumour, it may possible to remove the tumour and allow the cerebrospinal fluid to flow.(Source: http://www.sbhao.on.ca/spina-bifida & http://www.sbhao.on.ca/hydrocephalus )
I have got opportunity to learn about Spina bifida and Hydrocephalus in “Meeting the Needs of Children and Families” assignment. It has given me opportunity to recognize the value of diversity that exits among individuals who are living with disabilities. I also acquired knowledge about cause, symptoms and treatments of spina bifida and hydrocephalus. The most important thing I have learned that what are the needs of children of spina bifida and their families and how to provide help so that they can benefit from me in child care settings. In the whole course, I have learned about principles of inclusion and teachers role in responding to the identified needs of children and their families. I also have learned different types of special needs specially when I was doing “the Book Review” assignment. I have learned one thing is that the inclusion of children with special needs in childcare programs is an enriching experience for all and as a global citizen it is my responsibility to extend my knowledge to local, national and global level. In a childcare centre I have variety of families from different culture. I believe as an Early childhood Educator and Global Citizen I have responsibility to support families by giving information according to their needs and to respect diversity and provide equitable opportunities and benefits to all. I can tell families about spina bifida and can give information of agencies from where they can get support. I will treat all children and their families equally.
My strength was that I was organized from the very beginning. I collected some information online. Then I began to work on it. I focused on the grading guide. I followed my class teacher Ms.Chris Cadieux’s instructions. She gave us guide line in the class that helped me to go further. I have used www.connectability.ca website to get more information of teaching strategies. I had some challenges while doing this assignment. I have made online presentation for the first time. I found it challenging when I was making PowerPoint specially writing on note pages. Once I have finished two, three slide with note pages but forgot to save those and accidentally my laptop turned off and I lost all those things. I think it happened because I am not expert in using computer. I had challenges to download the pictures on slides. Another thing was finding agencies for Sonia’s family because it was hard for me to get agency of Toronto. But finally I have overcome all my challenges and have finished it on time. Overall I liked to make online presentation where I have learned to use note pages. This assignment has made me confident as I know that now I can help children with special needs and their families. In future I will distribute brochures and newsletters in my centre to deliver more information of spina bifida and hydrocephalus.I will make a blog to share my research knowledge of spina bifida and hydrocephalus to raise awareness of people around the world.
