Lesson 8- Amanda Noorda

This week, we learned about child abuse and the process of reporting it. Special Education is not only for students with disabilities but it is also for students with mental, emotional, social, or academic struggles. We also had to watch some videos about child abuse and the effects it had on children. Any child is at risk of being abused and it makes us realize that it can happen to anyone. The first step in the reporting process is for the special ed teacher to address initial concern to the school psychologist and share what they have seen such as a photo as proof of possible abuse. The psychologist should then address the principal and they need to report within 24 hours. It is important that the person reporting an abuse is a 1st person knowledge. After making the report, someone from the CFS will evaluate the situation and contact the child's family. In class, we also did a case study on a girl in 2nd grade named Hunny who has been a victim of child abuse. Her father forces her work out every morning, he refuses to let her be involved in after school programs, she does not hang around other girls in her class, and her teachers are concerned. We also learned that the first 1000 days of a child's life are very critical because it is during that time frame where a child should be cared and provided for.