Special Needs Visit to the neighbouring areas and interviews with two adolescents and two adults regarding their perception of persons with special needs. Content of the Project Identify two adolescents and two adults in the neighbourhood and interview them, using the given interview schedule, about their perceptions of persons with special needs. Purpose of Project You have read that one of the career options that you can take up after specialising in the Human Development/Child Development stream is working with children and adults with disabilities. Doing this Project (and the next one) will help you to develop some ideas of this career option.
Specifically, this Project will help you to understand what people in general think about persons with disabilities. Talking with people may also cause you to introspect about your own beliefs and perceptions. You may find that there are many similarities in your thinking. Think about whether you need to change some of your beliefs.
Key Concepts in the Project/Learning Points in the Project Some important terms in this area include — adolescents, adults, neighbourhood, interview, interview schedule. We can say that these are the key concepts that we want you to understand through the Project. Why are you being asked to interview adolescents and adults? Why in the neighbourhood?
And what is an interview and how is it different from talking to a person? You know: That adolescence is the time when the person starts to focus on the self and others in a very deliberate and conscious manner. Recall your reading about the Development of Self in Class XI. The ability for abstract thinking makes it possible for the person to think of various possibilities.
This is also the time when many values are in the process of being formed. The adolescent’s values and beliefs regarding diversity in humanity is important as it shapes everyday interaction. That adults often have well established opinions and beliefs — all of which may not necessarily be humane and just. Adults are also the ones who shape the attitude of children by their words and actions, directly and indirectly.