Education for Children with Disabilities: From the Lens of Psychology

On September 1, at 18:00 PM IST, a highly insightful webinar titled "Education for Children with Disabilities: From the Lens of Psychology" was hosted by Enable Education. The event featured two distinguished speakers: Ms. Yuthika, a Child Psychologist, and Ms. Prachi, a Psychotherapist. The webinar focused on the psychological aspects of educating children with disabilities (CWD), addressing mental health, societal challenges along with the roles of educators and parents combined.

The session began with a discussion on the heightened mental health challenges faced by disabled children. When asked about these issues, Ms. Yuthika emphasized, "Mental health problems matter and they only heighten with disabled children." Ms. Prachi added that the lack of inclusive spaces exacerbates these challenges, making it all the way more difficult for children with disabilities to thrive.

A critical topic was the differentiation between mental health and intellectual pproblems. Ms. Prachi explained that a lack of awareness and societal acceptance of diverse needs often blurs this distinction. "How I am made to feel around people versus how they make me feel is crucial," she noted. Ms. Yuthika added, "The child can answer this best. A little space and safety can certainly set things right."

The speakers also addressed common psychological issues in CWD, including anxiety, depression and emotional dysregulation. Ms. Yuthika identified these as "cloud struggles," often worsened by a lack of accessibility and fear of missing out. Ms. Prachi highlighted sensory needs as a major issue, often misunderstood by parents and educators, leading to emotional dysregulation and increasingly, body image issues.

On the topic of visible versus invisible disabilities, Ms. Yuthika discussed how invisible disabilities, like ADHD and emotional dysregulation, often lead to "masking"—a term explained by Prachi as "hiding feelings and emotions, keeping the emotional volcano masked within." This masking can lead to burnout and further mental health challenges.

The lack of accessibility, such as ramps and elevators, was underscored by Ms. Yuthika as a significant barrier for children with locomotor disabilities. Ms. Prachi added that parent-child interactions often suffer due to misaligned expectations, emphasizing the importance of keeping up with the latest technology to aid these children.

Regarding the shortage of disability-affirmative therapists, Ms. Yuthika cited a lack of information and education, warning that this gap creates a disastrous combination of ignorance and insensitivity. Ms. Prachi also addressed the stigma and stereotypes surrounding mental health in physically disabled children, stressing that these issues often go abegging, which can lead to missed opportunities for meaningful intervention.

In closing, the speakers offered tips for creating a more inclusive environment. Ms. Yuthika advocated for sensitizing peers, sharing an example of a sports day initiative for visually impaired students as a positive effort by schools. Ms. Prachi emphasized the need for understanding the impact of bullying and discrimination on a disabled child's self-worth, urging peers to be supportive and inclusive.

The webinar concluded with a powerful reminder that true inclusion must come from understanding the needs and struggles of disabled children through a lens that goes beyond the non-disabled perspective. The event was a significant step toward fostering a more inclusive and supportive educational environment for children with disabilities.