Mindfulness for Special Needs Students
Students with special needs age 7 to 25
About
The Mindfulness for Special Needs Students programme held over 12-18 weeks focuses on using mindfulness practices to help students with increasing self and other awareness, emotional regulation and academic performance amongst others.
Broadly, there are two types of Special Needs which are 1. Cognitive/Developmental/Behavioural: Autism, ADHD, Dyslexia, Low IQ and 2. Physical Disabilities: Visual, Hearing and Mobility. Mindfulness research on the former are increasingly showing positive effects. The challenges of Special Needs Students includes low academic performance/truancy/poor grades; behavioural challenges - disruptive in class, aggression, anger; lack of focus and attention - results in child seclusion; difficulty in learning and processing information; and inability to communicate effectively amongst others.
This mindfulness programme is designed to help in reducing stress and anxiety, problematic thoughts, aggression and enhancing their wellbeing and relationships with their peers and teachers.
Benefits
supports “readiness to learn”
promotes academic performance
strengthens attention and Self-Self-Calming
reduces anxiety before testing
promotes self-reflection and self-calming
improves classroom participation by supporting impulse control
provides tools to reduce stress
enhances social and emotional learning (SEL)
fosters pro-social behaviours and healthy relationships
supports holistic wellbeing
Additional Benefits for Students with Special Needs
positive changes in brain structure
lowers Anxiety and Stress
decreases Depressive symptoms
improves skills and abilities - attention, memory
emotional Regulation
reduces challenging behaviour
increases self-awareness
acceptance of ones experiences and disability
improves academic performance and classroom participation
improves relationships - teachers, peers and parents