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Severe mental retardation in children from socially disadvantaged families
Insights
Social disadvantage impacts early identification and support for children with special educational needs (SEN). Families with non-specific handicaps receive delayed recognition and less access to services.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Special Education
- Social Work
Background:
- Children with special educational needs (SEN) are often categorized based on medical recognition of their handicap and socioeconomic status.
- Early identification and intervention are crucial for children with developmental delays and disabilities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the influence of medical recognition and social disadvantage on early provisions for children with SEN.
- To examine the interplay between aetiology, socioeconomic factors, and access to support services for children with special needs.
Main Methods:
- Categorization of children based on medical recognition of handicap (infancy vs. unknown aetiology) and social disadvantage.
- Family interviews to gather information on access to services, parental knowledge, and social support networks.
Main Results:
- Both medical and social factors significantly affect early provisions for SEN.
- Children with non-specific handicaps from socially disadvantaged families experienced later diagnosis and had less access to information and support services.
- Parents in disadvantaged groups reported less contact with aid and support networks.
Conclusions:
- The distinction between pathogenic and subcultural aetiologies for severe mental subnormality may be inappropriate and lead to discrimination.
- Fieldworkers may misapply theoretical models, potentially disadvantaging socially disadvantaged families with undiagnosed developmental issues.
- Current models may inadvertently discriminate against socially disadvantaged families whose children's handicaps are not medically diagnosed early.
Abstract:
Children receiving ESN(S) education, attending special day schools, and living at home, were categorized into those whose handicap had been medically recognized in infancy and those of unknown aetiology, 'non-specific'. Information obtained from interviews with their families was used to identify a subgroup of those who were relatively socially disadvantaged. Both factors, medical and social, are shown to have a significant effect on early provisions for special needs. The non-specific cases from disadvantaged families tended to have been recognized at a later age than the rest; their parents had less information, less access to services, and less contact with others who could provide aid and support. It is argued that the theoretical model which distinguishes pathogenic and subcultural aetiologies of severe mental subnormality is inappropriate. It may be wrongly applied by fieldworkers, especially those serving families with a developmentally backward preschool child. The result may discriminate against socially disadvantaged families with a child whose handicap is not medically diagnosed.