Activity 8.2 Programmes to promote the positive images of persons with exceptionalities

Read the following information and record and complete the checkpoints that follow in your notebook. 

People may have different views on persons with exceptionalities or disabilities, depending on
their personal knowledge and experience. Unfortunately, many people in society think of
disability in terms of ‘tragedy,’ having an ‘impaired body’ or being ‘abnormal.’ As a result, these
persons are treated with sympathy and pity. As an early childhood worker, you should help to
change this negative perception. An important part of your job is to promote positive images of
persons with exceptionalities.

Children with exceptionalities have the same requirements for love, security and protection as
the other children that you care for. They have individual personalities, likes and dislikes and
you should take the time to give them a lot of attention and encouragement while understanding
and respecting their differences and needs. This may be achieved by:
• Ensuring that you give them opportunities to be independent
• Listening and talking to them so that you can learn from them

• Providing them with stimulating development activities and experiences
In addition, you can help to promote positive acceptance of people with exceptionalities by:
• Avoiding the use of labels such as ‘handicapped’ or ‘abnormal’
• Recognising and trying to deal with all forms of discrimination, bias and inappropriate
language and behaviour
• Responding quickly and firmly to such behaviour so that the person(s) understands that
their approach was wrong and insensitive
• Displaying and using positive images of persons with exceptionalities in books, pictures
and classroom displays
The multi-cultural nature of society dictates that visual displays, books and pictures should
promote positive images of all people including those who are considered to be exceptional.
Placing positive images in displays will encourage children to respect and value differences in
other people as well as discourage them from making antisocial comments which may be
harmful or upsetting. Books that include a child with special needs as an integral part of the story
can help children to develop an understanding of disabilities.
Children should also be encouraged to avoid stereotyping. Stereotyping – categorizing individuals or
groups according to an oversimplified,
standardized image or idea
Positive images of children and adults with disabilities and special needs from different cultures
should be displayed/represented in childcare settings through pictures, posters and displays.
Persona dolls may also be used in the home corner to help children to gain positive and accurate
information about disabilities.
The children in your ECI will be naturally curious when they become aware of exceptionalities
(at around three years of age) and they will ask many questions. You can help to promote the
positive acceptance of children with exceptionalities by providing accurate and developmentally
appropriate information both to the affected children and to the other children. Ignoring the
questions or not answering them properly may lead to fear and anxiety which may in turn lead to
discrimination.
As someone who cares for children with exceptionalities, you need to become as knowledgeable
as possible about the children and the impairment. Ask for advice from the parents, occupational
or physical therapists, special education teacher, or other people who have been working with the
children. You may also get information from one of the national organizations that serve children
with specific exceptionalities.

Note. 

You can help to promote positive images of children with exceptionalities by:
• Ensuring that informational materials for your ECI such as brochures and flyers
always state that all children, regardless oflevel or type of disability, are welcome
• Ensuring that photographs and drawings on the walls include children with visible
disabilities

CHECKPOINT
• Why is it important for early childhood workers to develop programmes to
promote the positive acceptance of persons with exceptionalities?
• Give two ways in which children in a childcare setting may be encouraged
to understand and respect children with exceptionalities.
• How can books, pictures and displays be used to promote positive images
of persons with exceptionalities?

IN THE COMMENT SECTION BELOW state how you would make a chart displaying positive images of children with disabilities. 

 ADD YOUR NAME AT THE BEGINNING OF YOUR COMMENT to identify yourself.