Mental Sub-Normality: Mainstreaming Children with Disabilities. The Challenges of the Counseling Profession
Effiom, Bassey Ekeng *
Department of Guidance and Counseling, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria.
Stella Bassey Esuabana
Department of Guidance and Counseling, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
This paper takes a critical look at mental sub normality, mainstreaming children with disabilities and the challenges of the counselling profession. Its use children that need special education, the blind, epileptic, partial deaf. Since they have rein-force stigmation. Inclusive approach, re-affirmation, care and integration, confidence building institutionalized in school and family life. Using guidance and counselling as the best approach to adjust the different maladaptive behavior of children in school. This works seem to view sub Normality as classify within range although adequacy of social adaptation is taken into account. As it may include brighter even cluster student, this children may be term educational sub normal. They may have weak intellectual capacity, some educational authorities have special school for them. But else where they are accumulated in normal school example Nigerian.
Sub mentality suffer discouragement, contempt and neglect from early age. Emotionally and social growth they cannot respond as adequately to the environment as can normal children, they are likely to feel isolated and to be excluded from social activities from early childhood. Therefore, counsellor must experience sub normality by getting involve and clarify their feeling towards children with disabilities.
Keywords: Mentality, sub normality, mainstreaming, disabilities, children, counselling.