Updated:
18 AUG 08

Working with Special Needs Scouts

Scouting is much more concerned with “abilities” than “disabilities.”  Every kid likes to hammer, your challenge is to find a safe environment where your special needs scout can hammer and do his best.

The key is helping them do their best. A 16 year old mentally challenged scout may not be able to use a table saw, but they may be able to screw together two boards that you pre-drilled holes into.  A wheelchair bound cub scout can still work at a bench that’s made accessible for his chair. 

Here are three strategies for dealing with these scouts:

• Have everyone do the same project but use the special needs scout as the “demonstrator.”  This way you can help him do the project, and he’ll get a kick out of showing the other scouts how to do the project.  Of course you’ll be offering a good bit of help.
• Pre-drill or precut more of the project components.  It’s very important that the special needs scout work on the same project as the other scouts.  They do know the difference if they are giving the “consolation project.”  All you have to do is make reasonable accommodations for what they can do. For instance, you can precut a pine wood derby car, and let them hammer on the wheels, sand, and paint, while the other kids are busy with the coping saws.
• Have different versions of the same project available and let every scout in the group choose which one do to.  For example, have 3 different bird house plans. Once precut, one that involves cutting, and one that is more difficult. (This is called “guided choice” by the academics)  This way no one is stigmatized by having the easy project. You might be amazed which scouts choose the easier project.

This way the special needs scout is not left out, but more importantly he feels included.

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