Mencegah Anak Berkebutuhan Khusus menjadi sasaran Bullying di Sekolah

by Riswanto
Bullying merupakan salah satu bentuk dari agresifitas, dimana pada penjabarannya berarti tindakan agresif yang dilakukan secara sistematis dan terencana serta berulangkali oleh seseorang yang memiliki kedudukan yang lebih baik (secara fisik maupun mental) terhadap orang lain , dimana tindakan ini dilakukan secara individual maupun berkelompok.
Bullying dapat berupa tindakan kekerasan fisik , agresifitas verbal, pengucilan, pemaksaan dan lain-lain. Tindakan-tindakan ini terjadi di seluruh institusi pendidikan di dunia. Dalam artian, hal ini terus terjadi dan tidak bisa dihilangkan 100%. Bullying tidak hanya dilakukan oleh sesama murid, tetapi tidak jarang dilakukan oleh pendidik (guru). Tindakan bullying dalam intensitas
yang tinggi dapat mengarah pada tindakan kriminal seperti pelecehan seksual.
Anak berkebutuhan khusus dengan kemampuan adaptif yang tinggi (high functioning) memiliki kemampuan secara akademik maupun sosial (dalam taraf cukup) untuk mengikuti jenjang pendidikan di sekolah umum atau inklusi. Namun demikian adanya perbedaan dalam tingkah laku maupun kondisi fisik, menjadikan anak-anak ini sasaran empuk perilaku bullying.
Seperti sudah disebutkan di atas, perilaku bullying tidak bisa dihilangkan 100% namun perilaku ini dapat diminimalisir. Antara lain dengan cara :

1.       Meminta anak bercerita mengenai keseharian di sekolah

Orangtua harus menyediakan waktu untuk berkomunikasi dengan anak mengenai kegiatan atau apa yang dialami oleh anak di sekolah. Tanyakan mengenai kegiatan apa yang dilakukan, ada kejadian apa hari ini, dan lain-lain.

2.       Memeriksa kondisi fisik anak

Secara teliti, orangtua memeriksa kondisi fisik anak. Apakah ada bekas luka, goresan, dan lain-lain pada tubuh anak.

3.       Menggali informasi dari teman sekelas anak

Sesekali tanyakan mengenai kondisi anak kepada teman sekelasnya. Hal ini bisa dilakukan bila anak belum memiliki kemampuan yang memadai untuk bercerita.
Misalnya dalam bentuk pertanyaan
"Audrey, kalau di kelas Evelyn suka main sama siapa saja?"
"Suka ada yang gangguin tidak ?"

4.       Menjaga kontak secara rutin dengan pihak sekolah (guru)

Bila anak pulang dengan kondisi emosi yang berbeda dari biasanya, segera tanyakan ke guru, ada kejadian apa di sekolah.

5.       Mencari informasi dari pihak lain, seperti sesama orangtua, babysitter, pengasuh,dan lain-lain

Orang-orang ini dapat menjadi sumber informasi untuk mengetahui atmosfir belajar di sekolah serta pergaulan anak di sekolah. Mereka umumnya tahu figur-figur yang ada di sekolah.

6.       Membekali anak dengan pemahaman norma sosial

Anak yang memahami norma sosial akan menolak atau setidaknya berusaha menolak bila teman meminta mereka melakukan hal yang buruk. Pengajaran dapat berupa : mengajarkan anak mengenai bagian tubuh yang tidak boleh disentuh orang lain (dada-pada anak perempuan, alat kelamin,bokong), mengajarkan  anak untuk berpakaian sopan (anak perempuan tidak boleh mengangkat rok), mengajarkan mengenai toilet training (buang air di WC, mencuci tangan, membersihkan diri setelah buang air)-saat anak bisa melakukan kegiatan buang air sendiri, akan meminimalisasi terjadinya pelecehan seksual-.

7.       Menjelaskan keadaan anak kepada teman maupun orangtua murid yang lain

Melakukan psikoedukasi atau penjelasan sangat efektif, karena seringkali anak-anak melakukan perbuatan iseng karena mereka tidak tahu kondisi individu yang mereka jadikan sasaran. Penjelasan mengenai kondisi anak dapat dilakukan saat event-event tertentu, atau orangtua dapat meminta guru untuk melakukannya. Keterbukaan orangtua mengenai keterbatasan anak patut ditekankan, agar guru maupun murid-murid lain paham mengenai kondisi si anak.

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<Ambrosius Torro>
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Do You Feel Guilty About Your Child's Autism?

Whose fault is autism?

It was a very long time ago that the "refrigerator mother" theory of autism was tossed out the window.  Now, no reasonable person would suggest that mom's bad attitude is a direct cause of autism.

So why do so many parents have feelings of guilt about autism?  There are two likely reasons.

First, some parents may feel that their genetic legacy is the problem.  They've seen autistic symptoms in their own family, and now note their child is an awful lot like Uncle Bill or Aunt Sally...  Of course, this is perfectly possible - but of course no parent can control the genes they pass along.  One could decide not to have children at all, given genetic flaws in one's heritage, but that would certainly limit the number of children in the world.  After all, none of us comes from a long line of genetically perfect people!

The second reason so many seem to feel guilty about their child's autism relates to the belief that something mom or dad did directly caused autism in an otherwise healthy child.  This concern is much more serious, because it suggests that mom, dad, or both could have prevented the autism if only they'd taken or avoided a specific action.  And the media around autism certainly supports this idea.  Could the autism have been prevented if only mom had avoided the tuna or the flu shot during pregnancy?  Could dad have "just said no" to autism by taking a job in a town that was less polluted?  Was it all about the vaccines that mom and dad "allowed" their pediatrician to inject?   Blogs, videos, TV interviews and radio all offer up stories of parents beating themselves up over just this sort of possibility.

What makes all this even tougher is the fact that very few families really know why their child is autistic.  Unless your child has a specific (rare) genetic disorder or there has been a known exposure to unusual substances (valproic acid in utero, and a few others), you will likely never know.

Do you feel guilty about your child's autism?

Share your thoughts!

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<Ambrosius Torro>
http://www.ku-creatives.co.cc
http://www.globaltalitakum.com
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RETT SYNDROME

What is Rett syndrome

Rett syndrome is a neurological and developmental disorder that mostly occurs in females.  Infants with Rett syndrome seem to grow and develop normally at first, but then stop developing and even lose skills and abilities.

For instance, they stop talking even though they used to say certain words.  They lose their ability to walk properly.  They stop using their hands to do things and often develop stereotyped hand movements, such as wringing, clapping, or patting their hands. 

Rett syndrome is considered one of the autism spectrum disorders. Most cases of Rett syndrome are caused by a mutation on the MECP2 gene, which is found on the X chromosome.  For more information on the MECP2 gene, see the What causes Rett Syndrome? (PDF - 697 KB) section of NICHD's Rett Syndrome publication.

What are the symptoms of Rett syndrome?

Beginning between 3 months and 3 years of age, most children with Rett syndrome start to show some of the following symptoms:

• Loss of purposeful hand movements, such as grasping with fingers, reaching for things, or touching things on purpose
• Loss of speech
• Balance and coordination problems, including losing the ability to walk in many cases
• Stereotypic hand movements, such as hand wringing
• Breathing problems, such as hyperventilation and breath holding, or apnea when awake
• Anxiety and social-behavioral problems
• Intellectual and developmental disabilities

There are a number of other problems common among those who have Rett syndrome.  But having these problems is not necessary to get a diagnosis of Rett syndrome.  These problems can include:

• Scoliosis, a curving of the spine that occurs in approximately 80 percent of girls with Rett syndrome
• Seizures
• Constipation and gastro-esophageal reflux
• Cardiac or heart problems, specifically problems with the rhythm of their heartbeat
• Problems feeding themselves, trouble swallowing and chewing
• Problems with sleep, specifically disrupted sleep patterns at night and an increase in total and daytime sleep.
  

For more details on symptoms of Rett syndrome and other associated problems, see What are the typical features of Rett syndrome? (PDF - 697 KB) in NICHD's Rett Syndrome publication.

What is the usual course of Rett syndrome?

Health care providers view the onset of Rett syndrome symptoms in four stages:

• Early Onset Phase – Development stalls or stops.
• Rapid Destructive Phase – The child loses skills (regresses) quickly.  Purposeful hand movements and speech are usually the first skills lost.
• Plateau Phase – Regression slows, and other problems may seem to lessen or improve. Most people with Rett syndrome spend most of their lives in stage 3.
• Late Motor Deterioration Phase – Individuals may become stiff or lose muscle tone; some may become immobile.

Most girls with Rett syndrome live until adulthood.  They will usually need care and assistance throughout their lives

What is the treatment for Rett syndrome?

There is currently no cure for Rett syndrome. However, girls can be treated for some of the problems associated with the condition. These treatments generally aim to slow the loss of abilities, improve or preserve movement, and encourage communication and social contact.

People with Rett syndrome often benefit from a team approach to care, in which many kinds of health care providers play a role, along with family members.  Members of this team may include:

• Physical therapists, who can help patients improve or maintain mobility and balance and reduce misshapen back and limbs
• Occupational therapists, who can help patients improve or maintain use of their hands and reduce stereotypic hand movements.
• Speech-language therapists, who can help patients use non-verbal ways of communication and improve social interaction.

Other options, such as medication (such as for constipation or heart problems) or surgery (to correct spine curvature or correct heart defects) are also effective for treating some of the symptoms of Rett syndrome.

For more details on treatment, see the Are there treatments for Rett syndrome? (PDF - 697 KB) section of NICHD's Rett Syndrome publication.

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<Ambrosius Torro>
http://www.ku-creatives.co.cc
http://www.globaltalitakum.com
http://zachky.blogspot.com
http://www.kuplix.co.cc
http://freakbiker.blogspot.com