ABSTRACT
Children and youths with disabilities face long-term difficulties which can function as risk factors impacting upon their development. Compounded by challenges from the environment, these young people can become highly vulnerable to adversity. Research has shown that when faced with difficulties, many experience low selfesteem and loss of empowerment leading to negative behaviours. In addition, sensory integration disorder (SID), which is known to be a common diagnostic feature in many disabilities including autism, AD/HD, and learning difficulties, was found to adversely impact upon their abilities to adapt to changes in their surroundings. These disadvantages pose as risk factors for resiliency, which is needed for successful inclusion within school settings. The Youth Resiliency Framework offers a simple tool for teachers and other professionals to evaluate these areas of concern. This chapter also offers research findings of proven coping skills used by youths with disabilities to triumph over adversity that teachers can adopt to help other children and youths with disabilities to better weather difficulties.
