Many children have features of physical, mental and or communicational origin that makes them special individuals. Often people talk about limitations, hampering, handicaps. That way they put emphasis on the medical diagnosed condition. On the things a child can not. On conditions that most of the time are not changeable, not curable. It almost is a negative view on the individual child.

Hanah International believes in looking to the individual possibilities of the child. And use the positive aspects and the special things that are needed to achieve an optimal individual development. That way parents and the families can use their energy and their expertise and the child will get chances. Not a handicapped child integrated in a “normal” world, but an individual child taken in into an environment where it belongs. With conditions adapted to its needs.

Although every special-needs child is different and every family is unique, there are some common concerns that link parents of those children, including getting appropriate care and facilities; promoting acceptance in the extended family, school and community; planning for an unknown future; and adjusting routines and expectations.

Parents of children with special needs are often more flexible, compassionate, stubborn and resilient than other parents. They have to be.

In this section we give some general information about special needs. In the other sections specific information about specific communication needs are posted.