Yes, agree that there might be more cons than pros to have a formal medical diagnosis for a young child.
What’s more important is to get specialised help to assess them and identify areas that need to be worked on and strategies to help them cope, behave and learn better in group and social settings. Once they are able to function better in group and social settings, it will be easier for mainstream kindergartens and childcare centres to accommodate and help them.
It might be more helpful to source for early intervention, social skills or school prep programmes run by private centres which do not insist on a medical diagnosis or direct referral from the hospitals. Not necessary individual therapy that charges by the hour (which can be very costly), small group social skills programmes conducted by teachers trained in special ed might be good enough. Such programmes focus on helping the children get used to classroom and school routines, appropriate behaviour in social settings and using strategies that enhance their learning.
Latest posts made by hopeful75
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RE: All About Autism
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RE: All About Autism
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.
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RE: All About Autism
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… -
RE: All About Schools With Good Support For Special Needs Kids
Children with special learning needs or learning difficulties might benefit from specialised programmes offered by centres offering such support/therapy programmes. If I am not wrong, there are centres (run by VWOs and private) which offer specialised school preparatory programmes and learning support programmes that will help these children transit and cope with mainstream schooling.
A friend of mine who had a son with learning delay was looking for a similar programme. She found Kidspace somewhere near upper bukit timah offering such programmes. You might also want to call them out to find out if they have any suitable programme for your child.