A. D1 – Evaluate the significance to the individuals, their families and society of a diagnosis of
additional needs.
In this assignment, I will evaluate Ben and Rebecca, as well as their families and society, for having a
diagnostic of additional needs. I'd also talk about how their learning impairments and mobility have
impacted both of them in positive and negative aspects. Whether it's physically, mentally,
emotionally, or socially. Learning disabilities can play a significant aspect to an individual life and
impact them through several of ways.
Child Case study - Rebecca Brown
Rebecca Brown, 8, is a wheelchair user who was injured in a car accident when she was 5 years old.
Rebecca has a fractured spine, which means she can't move below her cervical spine. Injury to the
spinal cord causes irreversible damage. Damage to the spinal cord at or below the level of the chest
causes paraplegia, which affects a person's ability to use their legs. When a person suffers an injury
that results in paraplegia. It will be devastating for them, their families, and friends, and providing
the necessary support and information is critical. They will require both emotional and practical
assistance, and information will be critical. The physical needs and support requirements of an
individual are determined by their disability, injury, or illness. Someone with a broken leg, for
example, will require short-term mobility assistance. An individual who has been paralysed due to
illness or injury, on the other hand, is likely to require long-term mobility assistance, such as using a
wheelchair, being supplied with aids, and being taught how to use them, to assist with daily living
activities. Their home may need to be modified to allow them to live independently, such as
installing a downstairs shower room and toilet or ramps in place of stairs. Accidents can drastically
alter a person's and their family's lives.
Rebecca's disability will have physical, psychological, intellectual, social, emotional, and financial
consequences for her and her family. Rebecca's disability affects her physically because she has no
movement below her cervical spine, which means she can't walk or move around with her legs.
Rebecca, as a result, requires the use of a wheelchair to get around. Rebecca may have low self-
esteem because she uses a wheelchair and thus does not resemble other children. Rebecca may
leave early before everyone else or go to lesson before everyone else to avoid the rushes while
other children walk to lesson. Rebecca may feel that this makes her feel different to the other
children and can leave her feeling isolated from her class peers, but Rebecca attends a school for
children with additional needs, so there will be other children with multiple other additional needs
that are different from Rebecca's, but this may not be a bad thing. Furthermore, because it is a
school for people with special needs, there will be specialists on hand to provide Rebecca with the
care she requires.
Rebecca's disability can lead to a variety of physical issues in the body over time. Overactive muscle
responses can result from a disruption in signalling through the spinal cord, which can cause
increased tone, muscle spasms, rapid muscle contractions, fixed joints, and abnormal tendon
reflexes. Paralysis can slowly cause digestive system problems ranging from constipation to inability
to control bowel movement; similar problems can occur with the bladder. Because of her disability,
Rebecca is more susceptible to infections and is more likely to have digestive issues. Rebecca is also
unable to engage in physical activity, putting her at risk of becoming overweight and possibly
struggling with diabetes and controlling her blood sugar levels. This may have an impact on her self-
esteem because she may feel as if she has no control over the issues that are occurring in her body,
and she may feel overwhelmed by having to constantly take medication and be at increased risk,
requiring her to take extra precautions and visit doctors or hospitals.
, Rebecca may also be physically impacted because she lives in an upstairs apartment provided by a
housing association that is small and inaccessible to wheelchairs. Rebecca may find it difficult to
make her way upstairs to the apartment all of the time because the apartment is small and therefore
wheelchair accessible. Rebecca lives in this apartment with her family, and the fact that it is not
wheelchair accessible suggests that it is small and difficult to navigate. This will have an impact on
Rebecca's family because living in a small house is difficult enough, but living in a small house with
someone who requires a wheelchair is even more difficult because a wheelchair may be too large
and narrow for the corridors. Rebecca's family may have to put in a lot of effort to get up to the flat
and through the narrow doorways. A wheelchair user faces numerous daily challenges, such as
manoeuvring through small doorways or corridors, going shopping, using public transportation, and
many more. To ensure that people with disabilities have easy access to public transportation,
measures such as priority seating, drop ramps for easy access onto and off the bus, and free bus
passes have been implemented. Rebecca may face additional challenges due to tight spaces and
rough or uneven terrain. Rebecca would struggle to get where she needs to go if she did not have
access to public transportation. This may have an impact on her social and intellectual development
because she may not be able to see her friends as frequently as she would like due to public
transportation issues, she may fall behind in school due to being late or not showing up, and she
may also miss consultations and appointments with her GP or specialist's doctors.
Rebecca attends a school for children with special needs, implying that her disability will not have an
impact on her education or intellectual development because she is still learning and being exposed
to the same level of content as everyone else, despite the fact that appointments, days when it is
difficult to get out of bed, hospital visits, and time off school will all have a negative impact on
Rebecca's intellectual development.
Rebecca is supported by a specially trained teaching assistant and a carer during the school day.
They will support Rebecca and ensure that she is properly supported, as well as boost her
confidence and help her gain independence by teaching and empowering her. There are numerous
ways they could empower Rebecca, one of which is to focus on the person rather than their
disability. When she meets new people, they may be unsure of how to approach them during the
interaction. It is important to remember that people living with disabilities are just normal, ordinary
human beings, as they all have their own identity, feel the same emotions, have their own unique
personal interests and hobbies, as well as their own goals, dreams, and desires - so treat those with
disabilities the same as those who do not have a disability. To promote independence for people
with disabilities, her family and her designed teacher should encourage decision making. Living an
independent life is extremely important - and because Rebecca is only eight years old, now is an
excellent time for her to develop her independence and confidence, as this will be a valuable skill for
her as she grows older. The best way they can empower Rebecca's independence is to give her
opportunities to make her own decisions in her daily life, such as allowing her to choose what
clothes she wants to wear by providing her with a variety of options. Whether the decision is large or
small, it is the responsibility of the family and the designed teacher to give her the right to make
every decision about her life. Other examples include: what and when to eat and drink, what to do
during the day, including work, and with whom to spend time, such as friends and family. Also,
Rebecca's decisions are always backed up by her friends and family. Having access to a career and a
specially trained teaching assistant will encourage Rebecca to attend school more frequently
because she will not face difficulties in managing on her own and will instead find comfort in building
effective relationships with these professionals and having familiar people around her when she is in
school. Having good personal care benefits Rebecca by protecting her from infections and increasing
her self-confidence and self-esteem by making her feel clean and ready for the day, motivating her