Benecia Rodrigues
Unit 12 : Supporting Individuals with Additional Needs
Learning Aim A: Examine reasons why individual may experience additional needs (P1, M1, D1)
It is important to support individuals with additional needs in order to improve their quality of life.
Additional needs means special needs an individual requires for their disability that may have this
can be medical, mental or psychological 1. This includes maintaining a healthy lifestyle by having a
strict diet and helping individuals carry on daily activities and cope with daily challenges. Supporting
individuals with attainable needs would help improve their quality of life and make their daily living
easier. In this report I will be evaluating different individual’s different additional needs therefore it
is important that they receive the required additional support in order to improve their quality of
life. I will be explaining reasons why individuals may experience additional needs. In the assignment I
will be using two Pearson authorised brief case studies; one of a young child named Rebecca Brown
and one of an adult named Ben Grace. For these case studies I will be explaining, assessing and
evaluating an individual’s additional needs and what they determine, require and the possible
effects of this condition on the individual, their families and society. Support would be given to Ben
Grace and Rebecca Brown through the help of different specialists and adaptational equipment
which would help them overcome their challenges and improve their quality of life.
Disability is defined as a physical or mental condition that limits an individual’s senses, movement or
activity2. This may have long term effects on an individual meaning the person acquired a certain
condition for over an year or short term effects meaning the person's condition lasts less than a
year. Moreover, besides having a disability or impairments there is a chance that an individual may
develop additional needs and will therefore require more support for day to day living. The severity
of an individual's disability could differentiate from being mild to severe. Furthermore, depending on
the severity of the individual’s disability, the type of additional needs required, may change over
time. There are different types of additional needs, this includes physical, emotional, intellectual and
development needs.
There are four types of learning disabilities, mild, moderate, severe and profound learning
disabilities. Mild disability can be defined as, an individual is able to talk but may find it hard to
understand or explain the new information easily. Moderate learning disability is when an individual
finds it difficult to carry on daily living activities and they are only able to apply basic language skills
to explain what they want or what they are feeling. Severe and profound learning disabilities are
applied to an individual with only basic language skills and will often communicate through gestures
rather than words. For example, Ben Grace has a moderate learning disability; this is evident by his
Ben Grace’s case study which clearly identifies that he requires support with all daily living activities
such as taking his medication and maintaining his diet. Ben may also have basic language skills due
to his mental age of an eight year old which also states that he may use gestures to explain and he
will not be able to reach his milestones therefore resulting him to not have a normal adult life.
In order to identify the type of needs an individual has, a diagnosis will need to be provided. A
diagnosis helps identify an individual’s illness or medical condition by examining their symptoms.
Symptoms can be physical or mental features of a medical condition which can be experienced by an
individual such as headaches. In order to identify the type of disability, a person will undergo a
diagnosis procedure. Diagnostic tools are used to diagnose a disability therefore diagnostic
procedures will be taken by professionals and specialists. Specialists are trained people who have a
highly qualified degree in a specific subject and work in social services, medicine, nursing, or
teaching. The Diagnostic procedures determine what type of disability or condition an individual has
in order to determine the additional needs the individual may require. Standards of practices are
conditions set by the central government, local government and local health authorities that carers
1
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_needs
2
https://www.lexico.com/en/definition/disability
, Benecia Rodrigues
Unit 12 : Supporting Individuals with Additional Needs
of a patient must follow. Example, diagnostic tools are used to diagnose Ben’s disability therefore
diagnostic procedures will be taken by professionals and specialists. One of the procedures is the
screening tests which identifies if a mother is carrying a baby with down syndrome. There are two
types of screening tests, First trimester and Second trimester. However, these screening tests do not
assure whether the baby has Down Syndrome. On the other hand, diagnostic tests can identify
whether the baby has Down Syndrome. Ben’s mother probably had to undergo a screening and a
diagnostic test during her pregnancy to determine if she is carrying a baby with Down’s Syndrome.
Therefore, Ben was diagnosed from a screening test or a diagnostic test. After birth, Ben may have
done a chromosomal karyotype test which was provided by the health care providers to confirm his
diagnosis. Standards were used to diagnose his disability. Parameters are used to describe a
diagnosed condition. Ben would have required multiple specialists and professionals who have a
qualified degree to help maintain his condition.
Case study 1. Rebecca Brown (Child Study)
Rebecca Brow is 8 years old and is a wheelchair user, following a road traffic accident
when she was five years old. Rebecca requires one to one personal care due to her
physical disabilities, as she sustained a fractured spine in the accident, meaning that she
has no movement below her cervical spine.
Rebecca attends a school for children with additional needs, where she has a designated
teaching assistant and also a carer who provides her with personal care during the
school day.
Rebecca lives with her parents Sue and David and her older sibling Michael who is 12
years of age.
The family live in an upstairs apartment provided by a housing association, which is
small and not ‘wheelchair friendly’.
Sue has a part time job at a local day nursery but has to stay at home during the school
holidays, in order to care for Rebecca and Michael, reducing the family income.
David works full-time at a local factory, working long hours for a low wage.
The neighbourhood where the Brown family live are not tolerant of Rebecca’s
‘difference’, and the family have received unpleasant comments as they pass neighbours
in the street, causing them to avoid going out whenever possible.
Case study 1. Ben Grace (Adult Study)
Ben Grace is fifty two and has Down’s syndrome and type 2 diabetes. Ben has a learning age of 8 and
requires support with all aspects of daily living.
Ben lives in a group setting with five other adults who have learning difficulties and who also require
additional support.
Ben previously lived with his mother, but following her death last year, Ben moved to the residential
setting.
Ben has always enjoyed going shopping, but since he has moved into the residence, he prefers to
stay in his room which is a concern for the staff, following an incident with some local youths who
shouted at Ben when he went shopping with the residents and carers. Recently Ben was refused
entry to a local funfair by the manager who stated that Ben’s appearance could prevent other
people wanting to attend.
Ben is refusing to keep to the special diet required to control his type 2 diabetes and staff have
found bags of sweets under his pillow when making his bed. His blood glucose levels are unstable,
resulting in Ben feeling unwell. Ben has become withdrawn.
Unit 12 : Supporting Individuals with Additional Needs
Learning Aim A: Examine reasons why individual may experience additional needs (P1, M1, D1)
It is important to support individuals with additional needs in order to improve their quality of life.
Additional needs means special needs an individual requires for their disability that may have this
can be medical, mental or psychological 1. This includes maintaining a healthy lifestyle by having a
strict diet and helping individuals carry on daily activities and cope with daily challenges. Supporting
individuals with attainable needs would help improve their quality of life and make their daily living
easier. In this report I will be evaluating different individual’s different additional needs therefore it
is important that they receive the required additional support in order to improve their quality of
life. I will be explaining reasons why individuals may experience additional needs. In the assignment I
will be using two Pearson authorised brief case studies; one of a young child named Rebecca Brown
and one of an adult named Ben Grace. For these case studies I will be explaining, assessing and
evaluating an individual’s additional needs and what they determine, require and the possible
effects of this condition on the individual, their families and society. Support would be given to Ben
Grace and Rebecca Brown through the help of different specialists and adaptational equipment
which would help them overcome their challenges and improve their quality of life.
Disability is defined as a physical or mental condition that limits an individual’s senses, movement or
activity2. This may have long term effects on an individual meaning the person acquired a certain
condition for over an year or short term effects meaning the person's condition lasts less than a
year. Moreover, besides having a disability or impairments there is a chance that an individual may
develop additional needs and will therefore require more support for day to day living. The severity
of an individual's disability could differentiate from being mild to severe. Furthermore, depending on
the severity of the individual’s disability, the type of additional needs required, may change over
time. There are different types of additional needs, this includes physical, emotional, intellectual and
development needs.
There are four types of learning disabilities, mild, moderate, severe and profound learning
disabilities. Mild disability can be defined as, an individual is able to talk but may find it hard to
understand or explain the new information easily. Moderate learning disability is when an individual
finds it difficult to carry on daily living activities and they are only able to apply basic language skills
to explain what they want or what they are feeling. Severe and profound learning disabilities are
applied to an individual with only basic language skills and will often communicate through gestures
rather than words. For example, Ben Grace has a moderate learning disability; this is evident by his
Ben Grace’s case study which clearly identifies that he requires support with all daily living activities
such as taking his medication and maintaining his diet. Ben may also have basic language skills due
to his mental age of an eight year old which also states that he may use gestures to explain and he
will not be able to reach his milestones therefore resulting him to not have a normal adult life.
In order to identify the type of needs an individual has, a diagnosis will need to be provided. A
diagnosis helps identify an individual’s illness or medical condition by examining their symptoms.
Symptoms can be physical or mental features of a medical condition which can be experienced by an
individual such as headaches. In order to identify the type of disability, a person will undergo a
diagnosis procedure. Diagnostic tools are used to diagnose a disability therefore diagnostic
procedures will be taken by professionals and specialists. Specialists are trained people who have a
highly qualified degree in a specific subject and work in social services, medicine, nursing, or
teaching. The Diagnostic procedures determine what type of disability or condition an individual has
in order to determine the additional needs the individual may require. Standards of practices are
conditions set by the central government, local government and local health authorities that carers
1
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_needs
2
https://www.lexico.com/en/definition/disability
, Benecia Rodrigues
Unit 12 : Supporting Individuals with Additional Needs
of a patient must follow. Example, diagnostic tools are used to diagnose Ben’s disability therefore
diagnostic procedures will be taken by professionals and specialists. One of the procedures is the
screening tests which identifies if a mother is carrying a baby with down syndrome. There are two
types of screening tests, First trimester and Second trimester. However, these screening tests do not
assure whether the baby has Down Syndrome. On the other hand, diagnostic tests can identify
whether the baby has Down Syndrome. Ben’s mother probably had to undergo a screening and a
diagnostic test during her pregnancy to determine if she is carrying a baby with Down’s Syndrome.
Therefore, Ben was diagnosed from a screening test or a diagnostic test. After birth, Ben may have
done a chromosomal karyotype test which was provided by the health care providers to confirm his
diagnosis. Standards were used to diagnose his disability. Parameters are used to describe a
diagnosed condition. Ben would have required multiple specialists and professionals who have a
qualified degree to help maintain his condition.
Case study 1. Rebecca Brown (Child Study)
Rebecca Brow is 8 years old and is a wheelchair user, following a road traffic accident
when she was five years old. Rebecca requires one to one personal care due to her
physical disabilities, as she sustained a fractured spine in the accident, meaning that she
has no movement below her cervical spine.
Rebecca attends a school for children with additional needs, where she has a designated
teaching assistant and also a carer who provides her with personal care during the
school day.
Rebecca lives with her parents Sue and David and her older sibling Michael who is 12
years of age.
The family live in an upstairs apartment provided by a housing association, which is
small and not ‘wheelchair friendly’.
Sue has a part time job at a local day nursery but has to stay at home during the school
holidays, in order to care for Rebecca and Michael, reducing the family income.
David works full-time at a local factory, working long hours for a low wage.
The neighbourhood where the Brown family live are not tolerant of Rebecca’s
‘difference’, and the family have received unpleasant comments as they pass neighbours
in the street, causing them to avoid going out whenever possible.
Case study 1. Ben Grace (Adult Study)
Ben Grace is fifty two and has Down’s syndrome and type 2 diabetes. Ben has a learning age of 8 and
requires support with all aspects of daily living.
Ben lives in a group setting with five other adults who have learning difficulties and who also require
additional support.
Ben previously lived with his mother, but following her death last year, Ben moved to the residential
setting.
Ben has always enjoyed going shopping, but since he has moved into the residence, he prefers to
stay in his room which is a concern for the staff, following an incident with some local youths who
shouted at Ben when he went shopping with the residents and carers. Recently Ben was refused
entry to a local funfair by the manager who stated that Ben’s appearance could prevent other
people wanting to attend.
Ben is refusing to keep to the special diet required to control his type 2 diabetes and staff have
found bags of sweets under his pillow when making his bed. His blood glucose levels are unstable,
resulting in Ben feeling unwell. Ben has become withdrawn.
