Accept your child as a 'special baby'

In reality, when faced with children who are slow to speak, have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, language disorders, autism spectrum disorders, learning difficulties, etc., many parents still have difficulty accepting that their children need special education , and do not allow their children to receive early intervention.

Besides, there are also fathers and mothers who sacrifice their work and time to accompany their children, helping them to make great progress. The happiness that has come is immeasurable.

Ms. Nhu Y, teacher at Tuong Lai Special School, intervenes 1:1 for children

"HOW CAN I GET MARRIED IF I HAVE A DISABILITY CERTIFICATE?"

"That child was 24 months old. During the time affected by the Covid-19 epidemic, each person held a phone or iPad from morning to night. When the child slept, he was still in his sleep, raising his hand and swiping in the air as if he was swiping an iPad. When the child was brought to school, he did not interact with the teacher, saying he did not look. The child's mother still said, "My child is fine," "Ms. NY, a teacher at a specialized school in Ho Chi Minh City, told Thanh Nien Newspaper reporter. On the floor where Ms. Y. was working, the sounds of children screaming, crying, and laughing were still loud, even though it was noon.

Ms. Y. said that each special child is a world of their own, no two are alike. There is a 4-year-old child who does not speak Vietnamese but keeps mumbling something, and if you listen closely, it sounds like he is speaking Korean. Another child has a voice that sounds like a cartoon voice, but it is neither English nor Vietnamese.

"There was a boy, grade 3, with a very handsome face, but when he went to school he could not absorb knowledge, his development was slow, his parents accepted him but his grandparents refused to take him for a developmental assessment, they were afraid that he would be confirmed as a disabled child. His grandparents said, "How can I get married if I have a disability certificate?", Ms. Y. sighed.

Ms. NN, a teacher at a special school in Ho Chi Minh City, said that in the past 2 years, she has provided 1-on-1 intervention for many children from 15 to 30 months old. It is clear that some parents have early awareness that their children have different symptoms than their peers, and accept that their children need early intervention.

However, there are still some parents who find it difficult to accept their children's condition. Or the parents accept it, but the grandparents object, refusing to let their children have a disability certificate because they "fear the certificate will follow them for life". Some children are still sent to regular schools, but when they can no longer study, their parents have to send their children to special schools.

SENBOX center teachers in the process of teaching children

THERE ARE THINGS MORE IMPORTANT THAN READING AND DOING MATH

Ms. Tran Thi Hoai Nghi, a teacher at Kim Dong Primary School, Go Vap District, Ho Chi Minh City, has talked and confided in parents many times during her years of work when she noticed special signs in her children.

There was a mother who, when advised to take her child for a check-up and found out that her child had autism spectrum disorder, almost gave up all her busy work outside to accompany her child. The boy spoke English very well and now has made remarkable progress, the mother cried in happiness. Or a family with a 5-year-old son who could not speak yet, the wife quit her job, the husband also worked less so that both could spend more time with the child. After 2 years, the boy could speak, the family was extremely happy.

But Ms. Nghi’s advice was not always successful. Many times, she received strong reactions from parents. They did not believe that their children, who were very beautiful and handsome, and had outstanding talents such as being good at English or math, were having learning disabilities, autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, etc.

"There are also cases where students have a disability certificate from the local authorities, but their parents do not submit it to the school for many reasons. As a result, the child does not have an individual education plan, which is very disadvantageous," Ms. Nghi confided.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Nhu Y, a teacher at Tuong Lai Special School, Ngo Quyen Street, District 5, Ho Chi Minh City, told about a recent student. When she was brought to see her, the child was 3 and a half years old, could not speak, often ran around, could not recognize colors or shapes, and when the teacher gave her toys, she would suck them or throw them away. The child's mother did not accept her child's difficulties, saying "my child is normal" and did not take her child to see a doctor.

"After much encouragement, the child's mother finally took her child for testing and evaluation. The child was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. Although the child is 3 and a half years old, his intelligence is only like that of a 12-month-old baby. Since knowing the results, the child's mother has been worried and called me every day to ask if she could help the child, if she could teach the child to be like normal children, if he could go to first grade, learn letters, learn math...", Ms. Nhu Y shared.

"Many parents are very anxious about whether their children can learn to read or not, but there are things that are more important than that. For children to be able to learn, they first need skills such as communication, interaction, playing, attention (observation, listening), language understanding, self-service skills, social relationships...", Ms. Nhu Y confided.

Children are guided to get acquainted with colors.

DO YOU THINK THAT CURE AUTISM WITH MEDICINE, ACUPUNCTURE… WILL CURE IT?

Mr. Doyle Mueller is a teacher from Germany with over 25 years of experience working with children with learning disabilities around the world, including Germany, UK, Australia, New Zealand and Vietnam. He is currently the director and founder of the SENBOX teaching system and the special education center of the same name in District 7, Ho Chi Minh City.

This center is intervening for about 26 children with problems such as intellectual disability, developmental delay, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention deficit disorder (ADD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), challenging behavior... Children receive full-time intervention from 8am to 5pm every day, 1-1 or 2-1 intervention.

Being present at the place where Mr. Mueller and his colleagues work, we observe children whose daily progress is monitored through photographic evidence; individualized education plans (IEPs); and curriculum through AAC (Augmentative Alternative Communication).

Golden period for intervention

Ms. Nguyen Thi Nhu Y said that the period from 0 to 3 years old is the golden period for intervention for children needing special education. From 3 to 6 years old is late, but late is better than never. Parents should not wait until their children are in their teens.

According to teachers, parents can take their children to the Center for Supporting the Development of Inclusive Education for People with Disabilities in Ho Chi Minh City (under the Department of Education and Training, 108 Ly Chinh Thang, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City) for diagnosis and assessment of development level.

To ensure that children are properly and scientifically intervened, teachers working here must all graduate from special education, psychology, social education, have medical knowledge... and be trained every Saturday to gain more experience.

Speaking to Thanh Nien reporter, Mr. Doyle Mueller worriedly raised some problems of some parents whose children need special education, typically not accepting that their children need special education. There are still thoughts like taking their children to this doctor, that hospital to be treated with medicine, acupuncture... then their children will be cured.

Or there are parents who send their children to school or special education centers but do not know or do not dare to ask the teachers what interventions they have done with their children, what exercises they have given their children to practice...

Mr. Mueller wants to change the perception of all parents, to accept that their children need special education, and to do it as soon as possible, so as not to miss the golden period of the child. In particular, parents who send their children for intervention should not leave them completely to the school and the childcare facility. According to him, parents should be observed, informed, and asked "why" about the ways teachers intervene with their children. If teachers refuse all of the above requests, they are wrong...

(to be continued)

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