Once you stop questioning, your frustration will reduce and you will be able to focus on more important things.
Treat your child as normal
Don't tolerate tantrums or be liberal in doing tasks for the child on the pretext that he/she is special. As far as possible, train and let the child do his/her tasks by himself/herself-such as choosing dresses to wear, wearing shoes, etc.
Never argue, quarrel, or speak ill about the child in his/her presence.
Don’t think that the child does not understand that his/her parents are quarrelling or talking ill about him/her. Children are very observant and can grasp the underlying feelings of words. The child will imitate your behavior with your spouse.
Harmony between both the parents will create a healthy environment.
Couples must spend sometime in the year with each other by arranging the child to stay with grandparents. Parent’s relationship with each other influences their relationship with their child.
About taking the child to public places or other people’s houses.
You and your child have the right to be in public places without feeling humiliated. Studies have shown that in a public place, when you tell others about the child’s problem, people understand and empathize.
Explain your child’s problem to your relatives and close friends.
Explain to them what autism, learning disability or mental retardation is and what specific symptoms your child has. Only if they are aware of the child’s problem, they can accept the child and help you.
There will be some days when your child may seem more problematic or uncontrollable, but don’t panic
Take care that your normal children do not feel neglected because your special child needs more attention.
Spend quality time with them. Reassure the normal siblings that he or she will not develop his/her sibling’s problem. Take their suggestions and involve them in their special sibling’s care.
Be observant about every progress your child makes.
Celebrate even the smallest growth or progress of your child. This will encourage you as well as the child.
Autism
Autism is characterized by impaired developments in social interaction, communication, and behavior. The degree of autism varies from mild to severe. The cause of autism is unknown. The optimal treatment of autism involves an educational program that is suited to the child’s developmental level.
Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral palsy (CP) is an abnormality of motor function, the ability to move and control movements. CP is due to brain damage that does not progress in severity. The causes of CP include prematurity, genetic disorders, strokes, and infection of the brain. Many children with CP have a normal intellect and have no seizures. Treatment of CP is for the symptoms only; there are few treatments for the underlying causes.
Down syndrome
A congenital condition characterized by moderate to severe mental disability, slanting eyes, a broad short skull and trisomy of the human chromosome numbered 21.
Hearing Impairment
Hearing impairment is lessened or loss of hearing sensitivity caused by disease or damage to one or more parts of one or both ears.
The definition of hearing impairment is different for children than it is for adults. Adults who are postlingually deafened, as in old age or due to a later onset illness have knowledge of language, and are therefore more adept at “filling in the blanks” when listening to spoken communication. Children depend on hearing to learn language, and will not develop spoken language skills if left in an unaided condition.
Microcephaly
Microcephaly is a neurological disorder in which the circumference of the head is smaller than the average for the age and gender of the infant or child. Microcephaly may be congenital (present at birth) or it may develop in the first few years of life. The disorder may stem from a wide variety of conditions that cause abnormal growth of the brain, and is often a symptom of syndromes associated with chromosomal abnormalities. As the child grows older, the development of motor functions and speech may be developed. Hyperactivity and mental retardation are common occurrences, although the degree of each varies. Convulsion may also occur. Motor ability varies, ranging from clumsiness to spastic quadriplegia.
The Development of Movement and Locomotion
For the physiotherapist and the parents of physically affected children, it is important to understand not only what function develops at a particular chronological age, but also how the baby prepares himself for each new step in his development.
Head control is an important prerequisite for the development of all functions. Until the position of the head in space and against gravity is established, the baby cannot develop eye and head control, visual activity or balance against gravity. The potential for standing and walking is present in his brain at the time of birth, and will develop after the child has acquired head control, extension against gravity into the normal controlled walking of the older baby.
Locomotion does not develop as a separate entity, but as a result of development in different other areas such as, in order to stand the infant must hold himself erect against gravity. He must develop extension, shift his weight, balance, equilibrium reactions and righting reactions should be developed if he/she has to stand and walk.
As balance improves his base becomes less wide, his walking steadier, and he can walk longer distances.

From Bud To Flower

A beautiful bud has started blossoming among other flowers in the garden of Rahein , COMPASS with the shower of care, fertilizer of hard work and season of determination and dedication. We all still remember the day; we first met Basit almost a year ago. He was a 4 years old small boy, wearing glasses and hearing aid, still unaware of his surroundings. He was not able to walk independently and the most interfering thing was his queer finger movements in front of his own eyes. We had hardly met with a child like Basit, with so many physical and mental complaints. Even during the initial many months none of us had the pleasure to get any sort of vocal response from him. It was a challenge for the teachers to make him wear hearing aid and glasses for longer periods of time and to take away any given favorite object from him. Socialization was so poor as if other people do not exist for him. His crying without any reason made all of dismal. He was just like a beautiful small bud, waiting for special care to become a complete flower.
We started working with Basit as a team. We all used our best skills gifted by Allah Almighty to nurture His beautiful" creation. The biggest challenge to us was the presence of Autism along with severe hearing and vision loss, which made it very much difficult for us to reach into his world.
The present day Basit is far more different, what we saw him on the day first. He is towards betterment. His queer finger movements have been decreased significantly. He has started attending his environment and we all and other people now exist for him. The sheen smile on his face captivates the hearts. He is not only walking independently, climbing few stairs but is also being trained from our sports coach. Teachers become felicitous when he imitates their sound patterns. Watching him playing and enjoying simple play activities e.g., tickling, is a worth seeing scene. In short, he has started enjoying the world. We can't forget the day, when Basit started walking after a plethora of hard work. That day was a celebration at COMP ASS and we all congratulated each other for that one of the biggest achievement and we do it often for even a minor success. Our happiness went boundless when we saw a satisfaction and ray of hope in the eyes of his mother.
These may sound little accomplishments to many but those are an indication of change not only in the life of Basit but his whole family. At COMPASS, these little accomplishments give us the courage and wings to fly and go beyond the skies to touch new horizons.
Basit is one of the many success stories at COMPASS. We are trying hard to nurture and flourish many more flowers in our garden. May Allah help us and give us the courage and opportunity to benefit as much special kids as possible. We all, at COMPASS wish Basit and all other beautiful flowers a full bloom with sweet fragrance spreading around.

By Isma Niaz
(Clinical Psychologist)