In the past two years, I have been doing psychological counseling work on adolescents, and I can clearly feel that more and more exceptional teenagers (with ADHD, emotional disorders, or intellectual disabilities) come to consult me. These children do not have any disorder in behavior because of their family, gender, and parent's knowledge. Every time they see their parents' desperate and helpless eyes, there is sadness in their hearts.
The present consensus on the meaning of education for exceptional children is to provide education tailored to the needs of special children.
In 1994, the World Congress on Special Needs Education (WCSNE) adopted the concept of "special needs education," referring to children with special needs as all children and youth with physical, intellectual, social, emotional, linguistic, or any other special educational needs. This includes children with disabilities and gifted children, street and working children, children from remote areas or nomadic populations, children belonging to linguistic, ethnic, or cultural minorities, and children from other disadvantaged or marginal areas or groups.
I've been caring for four exceptional children recently, of which two boys are twins, both with autism, and their learning abilities differ greatly compared to their peers. Although they come to attend the gathering every week, they often sit in the corner and draw pictures alone and cannot remember what is said during the gathering. However, with the continuous efforts of the co-workers, both of them can basically express their needs clearly.
A teenager with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) who is currently in the second grade of primary school. He keeps moving all the time, except when he is sleeping. He can't concentrate, has trouble sitting down, is often disruptive, and easily confronts believers.
Another teenager who is addicted to the Internet rarely participates in group interactions. Every time I visited him, he would be playing online games. Because of his online game addiction, he dropped out of school and stays at home for two years. Besides playing games and sleeping, he is not interested in anything else.
At present, there is only one part-time tutor in our studio, but due to the lack of professional skills, time, and energy, it is difficult to provide effective help to the above children.
There needs to be more attention, more teachers, and more equipment are the current status of caring for exceptional children. However, they also need to know the truth about the Lord.
I often think of the testimony of Nick Vujicic. Although he has no limbs, which brings unprecedented inconvenience to his life, Vujicic, under the correct guidance and teaching, does not abandon himself but can bring help to hundreds of thousands or even millions of people's lives.
In many cases, people often look at things with a limited vision and choose the direction of work based on the rate of return, so few people are willing to invest and pay the price in helping exceptional children. However, we must also admit that there may be "good" and "bad" in the eyes of humans, but in the eyes of the Lord, only all His beautiful works.
One day, autistic children, children with emotional disorders, and teenagers with Internet addiction can be freed from their bonds and gain freedom. Isn't this the fruit of goodness?
The work of caring for exceptional children needs attention from all people, not out of duty to finish the existing work but because of the original kindness and love in human nature. Because of this kind of love, we would be willing to care about every special person!
- Translated by Nicolas Cao
这两年我一直做青少年心理咨询工作，很明显的能感觉到，患有多动症、情绪障碍、智力障碍的特殊少年人来咨询的越来越多。这些特殊儿童并没有因为家境、性别、父母的学识而行为上有什么区别，每次看见他们父母绝望、无助的眼神时，心中都会有一种说不出的哀伤。
当今对特殊儿童教育含义的理解是，对具有特殊需要的儿童提供适合其需要的教育，这种理解是以“具有特殊需要的儿童”或“特殊教育需要的儿童”。
1994 年，世界特殊需要教育大会上引用了“特殊需要教育”的概念，指出特殊需要儿童，“即一切身体的、智力的、社会的、情感的、语言的或其他任何特殊教育需要的儿童和青年......这就包括残疾儿童和天才儿童、流浪儿童和童工、偏远地区或游牧人口的儿童、语言或种族或文化方面属少数民族的儿童，以及来自其他不利处境或边际区域或群体的儿童”。
最近我辅导四名特殊儿童。两名男孩是双胞胎，均患有自闭症，和同龄人相比，学习能力相差很大。虽然他们每周都会来参加活动，但往往也都是坐在角落中画画，聚会之后也不记得人讲的是什么。但是，在同工们不断努力之下，两个孩子都会基本表达需求了。
患有多动症的少年，目前就读于小学二年级。除了在睡觉之外，就一直在动。他注意力不能集中，也很难坐住，经常会搞破坏，还很容易和信徒们产生冲突。
另外一个网络成瘾的少年，很少参加团体互动。每次去看望的时候，他就是在玩网络游戏，因为网络游戏成瘾，这个少年人已经辍学在家两年，除了玩游戏就是睡觉，此外对任何事情都不感兴趣。
目前工作室有一个兼职的辅导老师，但是因为专业程度、时间精力不够，所以很难对上述儿童提供有效的帮助。
不够重视、师资不足、装备不够，是目前特殊儿童工作的现状。然而不能否认的是，他们同样需要明白真理。
常常想起尼克胡哲的见证，虽然从外在角度看他没有四肢，给生活带来了前所未有的不便，然而在正确引导和教导下的胡哲非但没有自暴自弃，相反能带给几十万，甚至上百人人生命的帮助。
很多时候，人常常会用有限的目光看待事情，以回报率、价值量选择工作的方向，所以很少人愿意在特殊儿童这份工作中投资、付代价。但是，我们也必须承认，也许在人的眼中有“好”有“怀”之分，但是在创造者的眼中都是祂美好的工作。
如果有一天，自闭症患者、情绪障碍得孩子、网瘾少年，都能脱离辖制而获得自由，这难道不是美善的果实么？
特殊儿童工作，需要各方面引起重视。并不是为了建立一份工作，而是因为人性中原本的善良和爱，因为这份爱，所以我们需要在意每一个存在特殊问题的人！
教会也应重视特殊儿童工作
In the past two years, I have been doing psychological counseling work on adolescents, and I can clearly feel that more and more exceptional teenagers (with ADHD, emotional disorders, or intellectual disabilities) come to consult me. These children do not have any disorder in behavior because of their family, gender, and parent's knowledge. Every time they see their parents' desperate and helpless eyes, there is sadness in their hearts.
The present consensus on the meaning of education for exceptional children is to provide education tailored to the needs of special children.
In 1994, the World Congress on Special Needs Education (WCSNE) adopted the concept of "special needs education," referring to children with special needs as all children and youth with physical, intellectual, social, emotional, linguistic, or any other special educational needs. This includes children with disabilities and gifted children, street and working children, children from remote areas or nomadic populations, children belonging to linguistic, ethnic, or cultural minorities, and children from other disadvantaged or marginal areas or groups.
I've been caring for four exceptional children recently, of which two boys are twins, both with autism, and their learning abilities differ greatly compared to their peers. Although they come to attend the gathering every week, they often sit in the corner and draw pictures alone and cannot remember what is said during the gathering. However, with the continuous efforts of the co-workers, both of them can basically express their needs clearly.
A teenager with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) who is currently in the second grade of primary school. He keeps moving all the time, except when he is sleeping. He can't concentrate, has trouble sitting down, is often disruptive, and easily confronts believers.
Another teenager who is addicted to the Internet rarely participates in group interactions. Every time I visited him, he would be playing online games. Because of his online game addiction, he dropped out of school and stays at home for two years. Besides playing games and sleeping, he is not interested in anything else.
At present, there is only one part-time tutor in our studio, but due to the lack of professional skills, time, and energy, it is difficult to provide effective help to the above children.
There needs to be more attention, more teachers, and more equipment are the current status of caring for exceptional children. However, they also need to know the truth about the Lord.
I often think of the testimony of Nick Vujicic. Although he has no limbs, which brings unprecedented inconvenience to his life, Vujicic, under the correct guidance and teaching, does not abandon himself but can bring help to hundreds of thousands or even millions of people's lives.
In many cases, people often look at things with a limited vision and choose the direction of work based on the rate of return, so few people are willing to invest and pay the price in helping exceptional children. However, we must also admit that there may be "good" and "bad" in the eyes of humans, but in the eyes of the Lord, only all His beautiful works.
One day, autistic children, children with emotional disorders, and teenagers with Internet addiction can be freed from their bonds and gain freedom. Isn't this the fruit of goodness?
The work of caring for exceptional children needs attention from all people, not out of duty to finish the existing work but because of the original kindness and love in human nature. Because of this kind of love, we would be willing to care about every special person!
- Translated by Nicolas Cao
Church Should Pay More Attention to Exceptional Children
