INTRODUCTION
Choosing an intervention centre for your Special Needs Child can be overwhelming. Here is a guide to help.
6 PRINCIPLES
1. SEE IT
Visit the intervention centre yourself.
Is it clean , safe and a good fit for your child?
2. HEAR IT
Talk to experts and other parents.
Do they use proven/ evidence-based methods that actually work?
However remember that your child is unique, and each child’s condition and profile can be different.
So what worked for someone else’s child might not be the best for yours.
3. ASK IT
Ask the centre director or therapist the following questions to see if it meets your family and child’s needs.
USEFUL WEBSITE LINKS TO SEARCH FOR SPEECH THERAPISTS, OCCUPATIONAL THERAPISTS AND CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGISTS IN MALAYSIA
Parents can refer to the following links to find detailed information about intervention specialists (including speech therapists, occupational therapists, and clinical psychologists) registered with various professional organizations in Malaysia.
However, please note that as of the time of writing, registration of these specialists is not mandatory:
Speech Therapist/ Speech and Language Pathologist: https://mash.org.my/directories/ https://mash.org.my/wp-content/uploads/MASH-Members-Directory-Nov-2022.pdf
Occupational Therapist: https://ot-malaysia.my/?page_id=84
Clinical Psychologist: https://www.mscp.my/clinical-psychologist-registry
4. DRIVE IT
How far is the centre from you home or work place?
Can you get there easily ?
5. TRY IT
If possible, do a few trial classes ( paid or free) to see if your child likes the centre and the therapists, before committing to any long term treatment.
Some centres may offer free trial classes.
6. YOU DO IT!
Therapists are assistants in your child’s rehabilitation journey, but YOU ( parents and families) are you child’s most important teachers.
Be involved , ask questions and practice skills at home.
Parents play a vital role in ensuring children apply the learnt skills across different contexts.
9 “TRAPS” TO WATCH OUT FOR
When looking for a therapy or therapy centre for children with special needs, please watch out for these 9 “ TRAPS”:
1️⃣ Unclear or Ambiguous Answers
When asked regarding therapists’qualification or experience, you receive an ambiguous or unclear response
2️⃣ Not Allowing Treatment Observation
If the centre does not allow parents to observe the treatment process, there may be undelying issues.
3️⃣ Not Supporting Parent Involvement
If the centre does not provide any form of parental training or discourages parents involvement in treatment, it is not following evidence-based practices.
4️⃣ Inappropriate Guarantees
Offering overly optimistic promises, such as :
“We guarantee that after x months, your child will xxx.”
“Your child will fully recover.”
“Your child will become normal.”
“Children with special needs can become like normal children.”
5️⃣ Lack of Personalization of Treatment
Failing to provide personalized/individualized treatment or education plans tailored to your child’s individual needs.
Not addressing significant differences in abilities among children in a therapy group.
6️⃣ Absence/Lack of Regular Assessments
Therapists do not regularly assess a child’s progress and discuss treatment plans with parents.
7️⃣ Failure to Provide Professional Reports
Therapists do not regularly provide professional reports on the child’s progress or provide reports which is not up to expected professional standards.
8️⃣ Emotional Blackmail
Using tactics like saying, “If you don’t start our treatment soon, your child will have no hope .”
9️⃣ Uncomfortable Feeling
Trust your instincts; if you ever feel uncomfortable in anyway, consider exploring other options.
3 COMPARISONS
(Limited to Areas with Abundant Resources)
When choosing a therapy centre in an area with abundant resources, parents should compare more and not rush to make a decision.
They should choose a therapy centre that they think is suitable and has a good reputation.
Personally, I think it is ideal to compare at least 3 centres before committing to any treatment.
However, I also understand that in areas with limited resources, parents may face the situation of limited choices.
KEY POINTS
●The importance of comparing:
Parents should not rush into a decision and should compare multiple centres before making a choice.
This is especially important in areas with abundant resources, where there are many options available.
●Factors to consider:
When comparing centres, parents should consider factors such as the centre’s reputation, the qualifications of the therapists, the cost of treatment, and the location of the centre.
●The importance of finding a suitable centre:
Finding the right therapy centre can make a big difference in a child’s progress.
Parents should take the time to find a centre that is a good fit for their child’s individual needs.
FINAL WORDS
Finding the perfect centre might be hard.
Decide what’s most important to you (cost, distance, the therapist, etc) to find the best fit .