All About Autism

[Double E]

ImMeeMee:

Double E:

I heard the government will announce in Oct that they will subsidize $300 per mth for private intervention. Previously, this subsidy only applies to kids who are waiting for vacancies from Government EIPIC and taking up private intervention during the interim. If this is true, it will be great as I am considering to send my boy for private EIPIC at Leapfrog.

Double E, where to find the full information on this announcement?

You can check out CEL website. But the info is not out yet cos the announcement will only be made in Oct. Just watch out for the news. I am also waiting.

[ImMeeMee]

Double E:

You can check out CEL website. But the info is not out yet cos the announcement will only be made in Oct. Just watch out for the news. I am also waiting.

thanks, no wonder couldnt find when I went CEL website.

Am a bit confused on what private EIPIC refers to. I have always thought that EIPIC is a full program that takes on a multi-prong approach on ST, OT etc. There is usually a EIPIC team that oversees the progress of the child and each child is given an IEP and IFSP upon consultation with parents.

I have always thought that private therapy centres like Leapfrog offer programs on speech therapy and/or OT, social skills etc. The programs are usually individualised and its up to parents what they want to choose for their kids - the concept is like enrichment except we usually call them therapy programs becasue of their nature. Do they offer EIPIC programs too as what I have described above?

[hopeful75]

Yes, I strongly feel that there should be more private EIPIC centres. Currently, most private centres provide specific therapy services such as OT, ST and PT.


My childcare centre has recently collaborated with a private centre called Kidspace Learning Place providing EIPIC and school preparatory programmes. They will incorporate OT and ST within their programmes depending on the needs of the child. From what I know, parents told me their fees are quite reasonable. Some of our children with learning difficulties and behavioural challenges have started to attend their programmes. Seems like the children have shown some improvement in their class participation. Hope there will be more of such centres…

[hopeful75]

Is it true that CEL only refers children to EIPIC run by VWOs? They should also refer children to private EIPIC centres since the queue for the VWO-run EIPIC centres is rather long.

[Chocki]

Early intervention and detection will save your child.

[Karkar]

helplessmum3:

My son will say \"mommy , love , love \" n ask to hug hug him

i wish my boy can do that.

[mashy]

Karkar:

helplessmum3:

My son will say \"mommy , love , love \" n ask to hug hug him

i wish my boy can do that.

Ya lor. Mine didn't like to hug at 3 yrs old.

[Karkar]

Hi Mummies,


i need your opinion on below
My fren’s son is in Montessori school. he was vomiting and coughing and going through a difficult time at the school before the class started. His teachers saw it but none of them offered any helping hand to him. The boy’s grandma was holding him and helping him, teachers who walked past him again didn’t say a word.

to me, teachers are not caring at all. even though this is not a childcare centre, but if teachers know a boy is under distress, and yet they ignore him, is it common in enrichment class/school? I thought the basic that a teacher can do is to ask what happen to him, whether they need any help or anything? even outside in shopping mall, passer-by would stop and offer a helping hand, not to mention that the kid is already in his school and the teachers all know him.

When i know about this, i am very disheartening. it shocked me further that my fren was told that usually enrichment teachers ignore all these as there are so many kids having the same problems every now and then. If so, you shouldn’t call yourself teachers and your school shouldnt be running, or you need to let parents know about this at enrolment. I want to find out what’s the normal practice in today’s preschool.

Thanks.

[huaywenandkenneth]

Hi Karkar


First, you need to find out if the Montessori is indeed an "enrichment" centre as described by your friend. If it is, it is technically not a "preschool", though it runs programme for young children. It would be considered a private school, similar to tuition centers. As private schools, the bottom line is profit making. The teachers have classes to take and even if they want to help, they would have their own children in the class to take care of. Besides, the grandma is there to help, and I think that could be one of the reasons why they did not come forward, since there is already an adult with the child. Not trying to speak up for the centre or anything, but this was the feeling I get when I interact with tuition centres/enrichment centres - efficient, fast-paced and profit driven. My kids are in kindergartens.

But having said that, I would think that if the grandma or the child had requested for help, one of the teachers or staff might have come over. What you have described was also not clear, whether it was a once off incident or it happened daily. I believe that might explain their reaction (or non-reaction).

[Karkar]

hi huaywenandkenneth，


Thanks for reply. that was one off incident. his son was only with school for less than 3 weeks. what it happened, the class had not started. I guess i need to warn my friend the difference between enrichment and preschool.

They might not help because grandma was there. However, out of humanity, teacher should just have asked. My friend said teachers didn’t care and continued to make jokes among themselves in the reception even though one of the teachers saw him vomiting. I can feel for my friend, and I would rethink about sending my kid to enrichment centre, esp our kids are specialit’s the Montessori morning playgroup, 2 hrs type.