Transition to Secondary School

There is usually a well-tried system to make the transfer to secondary school as painless as possible for all pupils. Pupil records will be passed on and perhaps introductory visits will take place. Parent meetings and information forms will enable you to ensure that the school is aware of your son or daughter's limb deficiency. Once again stress your child's physical abilities and dexterity. There may, however, be times during practical sessions in science, domestic science and technology lessons and with physical education, when some allowances need to be made - from both sides. It is worth remembering that the Occupational Therapist will be willing and able to assist in answering practical problems. A school visit can take place if requested.

Statementing - for the Minority

When a child has a bilateral upper limb deficiency or both upper and lower limbs affected there may be a need for additional assistance within the school. This may also apply where a child has additional physical or learning disabilities together with a unilateral arm deficiency.
In these cases an assessment of the child's abilities by the Educational Authority should lead to a Statement of Special Educational Needs which results in the child receiving appropriate help within the school environment or at a special school. The Community Paediatrician will generally initiate this.

A very useful fact sheet 'A Parents Guide to Statements of Special Educational Needs' is available frorn our head office.

Psychological Aspect

Babies and very young children are unlikely to have any psychological problems associated with their limb difference. Parents rnay have difficulties adjusting to their child's physical difference. It is important to get help and support in coming to terms with this. Positive parents are more likely to have positive children with high self esteem. If we as parents can naturally accept our children, difference and all, they in turn will have no problems accepting themselves. At some time in most children's lives, whether they have a lirnb deficiency or not they will go through a stage of self consciousness ( usually between 6 -9 years). At this age children want to be like other children and be accepted by their peers. Physical issues like appearance and clothes can become very important. It is at this time when some children may begin to try to hide their deficiency, even though they have accepted it in the past. They may for the first time show signs of resentment and feel a sense of injustice - why me?? They are striving to make sense of themselves, and if there are problems, then calm and sympathetic discussions with parents can help them through this time. They are also now able to and need to understand that they are how they are and that no "magic" will change that. It may also help to point out that how they are may have helped to make who they are! If children and parents find it difficult to talk through these times it can often be helpful to enlist the help of a relative, friend or teacher. The child's development of his or her self -concept is dependant on many factors, but the crucial ones are the acceptance and love of those closest to him. On that foundation, the family can help the child through treatment, limb fitting, therapy and any surgery which may enhance his abilities.

Teasing can be very hurtful, and most school children experience it at some time. Remember, almost all children are teased by other children for anything that may appear "different",such as wearing glasses, red hair, braces. It is often the response to the teasing that will tend to make it worse, or become less frequent. Some children benefit from being helped to deal with this. Once again a quick response can often calm the situation and if the child's self worth is in tact most of this form of teasing will be brushed aside. However, if the teasing becomes more acute and leads to actual bullying, either verbal or physical, this must be addressed swiftly. It is easy for children with a deficiency to become 'natural victims', they can begin to believe they deserve to be bullied because they are different. All schools should have an anti bullying strategy and this must be used to its full capacity if necessary. Parents should initially approach the class teacher, going on to the Head teacher and if the problem persists they should then enlist the help of School Governors and their local education authority.

As children reach adolescence, then both function and appearance are important. If things have gone smoothly up to now, it is likely that they will have the strength of character and inner resources to come to terms with the emotional and physical demands of adolescence, although there are no guarantees that our physically different children will be any easier to cope with than other typical teenagers. Children who lose a limb following an accident or selective surgery often find it more difficult to come to terms with, unless they are very young at the time. They can be far more difficult to motivate and discipline than those born with this condition. They will need help to accept their new 'body image' and may not be able to move on until they do.