"By not offering a service to children with learning difficulties are we discriminating against them?"
In this day and age we are quick to talk about equal opportunities, the rights of the child, disability discrimination, fairer provision for all, early intervention, inclusion, and so it continues. Document after document and policy after policy - produced to endorse the rhetoric but what is the reality? A post code lottery, inequality of provision and resources, disparate opportunities for children – a society which in effect promotes inequality.
Article 31 of the United Nations Convention on Rights of the Child states that “All children have a right to relax and play and to join in a wide range of activities”.
To make this happen in practice we need to have an understanding not only of typical child development and behaviour but also knowledge of the needs of the child who is different. How can we support their play and their learning? How can we offer support and advice to the parents and family?
This wide range of activities is open to most children by right but frequently excludes those children with learning and other disabilities.
Do we not have a duty to ensure equal access to good quality childcare?
Nobody likes being treated unfairly because they are seen to be different to other people. We are all different and unique as individuals. Promoting equal opportunities is about recognising this and trying to ensure that we all have equal access to all life chances.
The Scottish Executive states that high quality childcare and direct support to parents, will strengthen parents' ability to maximise their child's potential.
What is it about a child with a learning difficulty which makes us, at best, hesitate to include or at worst exclude that child from our child care provision?
I would suggest it is a lack of knowledge on our part together with a fear of not being able to meet that childs’ needs or concern that it may be to the detriment of the other children in our care.
Latest statistics suggest that 1 in 5 children have additional support needs of one kind or another. Obviously not all of these are learning difficulties.
What picture do you immediately conjure up in your mind when someone says ‘a child with a learning difficulty (or disability - the two terms are often used interchangeably)?'
Sophie Dow, founder of Mindroom and the inspiration behind the organisation, states that a “learning difficulty is simply a variation on normality.
Not being able to concentrate for long periods of time, getting bored rather easily, acting impulsively, tripping over things, trying to make sense of what you read or write, living in your own world, losing track of time, forgetting what you have just learnt, being single minded or extraordinarily talented – perhaps traits we all have? It is when these characteristics become prominent that they turn into ‘learning difficulties‘.
We need to be aware that children are not simply their diagnoses and to remember that children with challenges or disabilities are children first. Each child has a unique set of strengths and challenges. With the right support and interventions a child with a learning difficulty can be helped to reach their potential.
As adults we have been shaped in both our behaviour and opinions as our life experiences have unfolded. It is so important for all of us to be constantly open to new ideas. We can never know it all. What is relevant today will change very quickly. What a challenge and a privilege it is for us to be living in such exciting times, where learning difficulties are at last being recognised and thoroughly investigated. By being prepared to listen and learn with an open mind and to apply new knowledge in best practice, we can seriously endeavour to ensure that children with learning difficulties fulfil their potential.
I would urge you all to increase your knowledge base, to rethink your current child minding policy, to look at the bigger picture and to seriously consider how you can include the child with a learning difficulty.
You have powers you never dreamed of.
You can do things you never thought you could do.
There are no limitations in what you can do
except the limitations in your own mind
as to what you cannot do.
Don’t think you cannot.
Think you can.
Mig Coupe, Head of Mindroom Direct Help and Support
In addition to writing this article for the SCMA Magazine in November 2009. Mig also delivered two workshops on Learning Difficulties at the 2009 SCMA Conference.
For more information on the Scottish Childminding Association, go to www.childminding.org
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