More facilities, parental support needed for special-needs kids
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BY LUKE DOUGLAS Career & Education senior reporter editorial@jamaicaobserver.com
Sunday, October 09, 2011
DESPITE the lack of facilities and staff to adequately address the needs of children with learning difficulties in most schools, parents must make the effort to ensure the best possible educational outcomes for them.
So says developmental pediatrician Dr Andrea Garbutt. She noted that while all children should be adequately prepared to attend school, more time and attention should be spent preparing a child with special needs, such as those with autism spectrum disorder, than that of a typically developing child.
You have to address the health and physical development of children, whether they have special needs or not; their emotional well-being and social competence, in terms of their approaches to learning, their communication skills, and cognitive skills and general knowledge,” she told Career & Education.
“For special-needs children, such as those with autism spectrum disorder, it’s the same criteria they are required to fulfil to be ready for school. It just means it may require more effort, frequency and attention to get them ready on the part of the parents and community,” she added.
The doctor explained that the development of a typical child is taken for granted in that they are ready for school by age four. But the special-needs child may have a range of physical problems, including dental, which may cause the child discomfort, so parents must be on the lookout for these signs.
“From very early, aware parents of children with special needs are cognisant of the fact that they need to do a little extra. It could be getting them to walk, practising to hold a pencil (or) potty training them a little longer. But being aware doesn’t always mean that the parent can do what is in the child’s best interest because they may have to balance home with work,” Garbutt noted.
Bearing in mind the financial constraints of the Government, she did not comment on whether more should be spent on facilities for special-needs children.
But Kathy Chang, co-founder of the Jamaica Autism Support Association, noted that private schools have better facilities for special-needs children, and these are concentrated mostly in Kingston and Montego Bay.
Garbutt conceded that public schools with their large class sizes were unsuitable for special-needs children.
“Special-needs children need more one-to-one action and more supervision than a typically developing child. So the ratio of 35 children to one child is not the right setting for a special-needs child,” she said, noting that children with severe difficulties may even need a ratio of one teacher to one child.
“When you look at it that way, you realise you will also need auxiliary services, such as occupational therapy, physiotherapy, speech, and language therapy to accommodate them,” Garbutt added.
But for parents who cannot afford private school, the physician encourages:
* early diagnosis of their child’s condition from as young as 18 months;
* continuous research about the condition on the Internet; and
* a close relationship with the child’s doctor and teachers.
Garbutt recommends, too, that parents utilise the health and development passport issued to newborns since September 2010 to monitor the child’s developmental milestones.
“Know what your child should be doing; go online and look it up. Compare with other children of the same age and compare with your other children. After a few weeks of school, go in and ask your teacher how your child is doing,” she said.
Autistic kids get benefit of free dental clinic
Luke Douglas
Sunday, October 09, 2011
WHEN it comes to dental care, dentists can’t expect children, especially those with intellectual disabilities, to just sit, open their mouths and receive treatment without problems.
For children on the autism spectrum, dental care is especially difficult.
Most children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) have problems with communication and have a hard time keeping still.Others have behavioural challenges like biting, screaming, becoming easily frustrated as well as numerous sensory issues.
To address these challenges being faced by children with ASD and their families, the Jamaica Autism Support Association (JASA) recently teamed up with the School of Oral Health Sciences at the University of Technology and a number of sponsors to stage two free dental clinics for children 13 years old and under who are on the autism spectrum.
JASA co-founder Kathy Chang said approximately 40 children were treated at the clinics, held on August 18 and 25 at the St Andrew facility.
She noted that many of the children had never been to the dentist because of the financial challenges faced by their parents as well as their sensory issues, which make dental visits difficult for them.
“It is not their fault,” Chang explained. “These children require a special
approach and lots of patience. This is why JASA is extremely grateful that the School of Oral Health Sciences was willing to work with our children.”
In preparation for these dental clinics, JASA had arranged for the dentists and nurses working with the autistic children to be properly sensitised and better prepared. JASA also created a social story — a basic short story with pictures to help the children with ASD interpret challenging social situations — to prepare them for what to expect.
Paediatrician Dr Andrea Garbutt explained how difficult it is for children with ASD to care for their teeth.
“They don’t like the sensation of the mouth; you are also entering into their personal space and the direct eye-to-eye contact; and (there is) someone touching them. They find that intimidating, even if that person is their mother or father,” she said.
As such, Garbutt said the process involved the screening of the children so that their first experience with the dentist would be as positive as possible.
“The kids who were more affected in terms of their social, cognitive and communicative skills would have more difficulty sitting though the visit,” she
noted.
The doctor urged parents to provide positive reinforcement in helping their children to brush their teeth.
Chang expressed special thanks to sponsors Colgate Palmolive Ltd, MJD Pharmaceutical and George Azan and Sons for their contributions of toothpaste/toothbrush packages, Crayola GUM, spinbrushes, toys and treats to the clinic. Photography for the social story was contributed by Wendy-Anne Khouri Chinn.
For more information, contact www.jamaicaautism.org or e-mail jasa.jm2k9@gmail.com.
A doctor for special babies
A doctor for special babies – Helping kids come into their own
BY PETRE WILLIAMS-RAYNOR Career & Education editor williamsp@jamaicaobserver.com
Sunday, April 17, 2011
THEY’RE the ones on whom parents rely for the medical care of their children with special needs.
They are developmental paediatricians, the professionals who help children realise their best selves — despite mental and/or physical challenges — and guide their parents, helping them to understand, among other things, what they need to do to boost learning outcomes.
Career & Education talks this week to Dr Sharon Smile for insight into the occupation. Smile has been a physician since 1997 and a practicing developmental paediatrician since 2004.
She currently works with the parent-support group Jamaica Autism Support Association to promote autism awareness, having only recently returned from Canada.
Smile did her medical degree at the University of the West Indies, before doing her initial training at Cornwall Regional Hospital (CRH) in St James.
“At the time the environment (at CRH) was very family-centered and all persons involved in patient care made it their priority. There was great cameraderie and it was a great environment for learning,” she related.
Smile pursued her subspecialty training in paediatrics at the University Hospital of the West Indies, where, according to her, she “met some great tutors in the form of — just to name a few — Professor Gray, Dr Millard and Dr Antoine”.
“They all embodied the true spirit of a paediatrician,” said the woman who did her post-training at the University Hospital of the West Indies before completing a fellowship in developmental paediatrics at the University of Toronto in Canada.
“The developmental paediatric fellowship programme is spearheaded through the Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital in Toronto, Canada. I worked with an amazing team of professionals there and the Autism Research Unit. We also benefit from rotating through the Hospital for Sick Children for the first year of our training programme,” Smile noted.
Who is a developmental paediatrician?
A developmental paediatrician is a physician who treats and manages children with a wide range of developmental concerns and conditions. Some of the more common developmental disorders are autism spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy and developmental disability (mental retardation). We also evaluate and manage children with behavioural disorders, such as anxiety disorder, aggression and attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD). Proactively, we monitor the developmental trajectory of children who are at high risk for developmental delay secondary to biological, environmental and/or social factors, for example, premature infants, genetic syndromes and children who are abused.
What is the value of the work that you do?
Developmental paediatricians strive to ensure that all children are given the opportunity to overcome developmental challenges and lead productive lives. We work alongside other health care professionals, researchers, communities, churches, educators, and non-profit organisations to promote an understanding of typical development, atypical development and factors which influence a child’s development, such as environmental factors, for example, violence, parenting factors, education, and a lack thereof. We try always to promote optimal development through advocating positive parenting, a healthy home and school environment, healthy diet and spending time with your child, having fun through play. We aim, through research, to identify aetiolgical (causal) agents for these debilitating developmental disorders. Another significant role or value of being a developmental paediatrician is to offer support to parents of children with developmental disorders.
What prompted your entry into the field?
As it pertains to medicine, I have always had a preference for treating children. It stems from their innocence and truthfulness. Subspecialising in developmental paediatrics was easy. Interestingly, children with developmental disabilities have a level of innocence and a strong desire to overcome the hardest obstacle presented to them. Most times they are misunderstood and cannot advocate for themselves and even their parents find it difficult to advocate for them. Thus, I wanted to be that advocate and ‘a voice’ for kids who are vulnerable and unable to self-advocate.
What is it that you most enjoy about the work that you do?
The kids. They say and do the most incredible, unexpected and mind-blowing things. To see how resilient, persistent, appreciative and energetic these children are in the face of significant challenges is amazing. It encourages you to keep trying and to be optimistic.
What are the challenges you face on the job?
The greatest challenge is getting appropriate interventions for children with developmental challenges. Cost is a prohibitive factor. It is heart-rending to know that if only ‘this family’ could afford or had access to a particular intervention then ‘the child’ would be able to change their developmental trajectory to one in which they become functional in their respective environments. The lack of awareness about disabilities and how others view and value a child or person with a disability is also a limiting factor to progress.
What are the educational requirements for entry into the field?
To become a developmental paediatrician you have to first be a medical doctor who has completed sub-specialty training in paediatrics. Then, you complete a two-year fellowship programme in developmental paediatrics in an international medical programme as this subspecialty training is not offered locally.
What other skills and/or competencies are required for the field?
The most important competencies required are an open mind and perseverance. It is also important that you enjoy what you do and that you are passionate about what you do.
As a developmental paediatrician, what sort of employment options are open to you?
Locally, recognition of this field is still in its infancy. As with all subspecialties, options in working in the public as well as private sector are available.
Why would you advise someone to get into this line of work?
It is a very rewarding field. You have the opportunity to be the voice for one of the most vulnerable groups in our community — our children. You are able to make a difference and have a positive effect on a child’s life. If that is not amazing, I don’t know what is.
NOTE: In certain parts of the United States, an average developmental paediatrician’s salary is US$125,000 annually. Smile, for her part, is committed to serving the local public health system to afford access to a wide cross section of Jamaicans, poor and wealthy alike
Teen makes special needs kids a priority
BY LUKE DOUGLAS Career & Education senior reporter editorial@jamaicaobserver.com
Sunday, August 07, 2011
WHILE most teens are focused on the latest fashion fad or out having fun with friends, 16-year-old Arielle Berry spends much of her time helping children with learning disabilities and raising funds to assist with their development.
For the past two summers, Berry has spearheaded projects that have raised more than $100,000 for the Jamaica Autism Support Association (JASA), which is dedicated to helping people affected by autism spectrum disorder.
Supported by her family and friends, her activities are helping to raise awareness about this complex neurological condition that affects one in every 150 children.
“Last year, I decided to work with Aunty Lisa because I was interested in occupational therapy (and) I always liked working with children,” said Berry, who will be a high school senior when she returns next month to Choate Rosemary Hall, her boarding in school in Wallingford, Connecticut, in the United States.
‘Aunty Lisa’ is occupational therapist and family friend Lisa Stoddart Millingen, who operates Therapy Plus near Liguanea in St Andrew, which provides services for children with disabilities, especially autism.
Working with the children made the pleasant teen realise how much attention and therapy they need, and has sparked her interest in a career working with the special needs community.
“I am definitely interested in working with kids in autism. I have learnt how much attention they need, the different care each child needs, and also how intelligent and bright they are. I don’t know how in-depth I will go, but right now I am definitely interested,” Berry told Career & Education.
And so this summer — like last summer — she volunteered her weekday mornings for three weeks, providing hands-on attention to children ranging from about three to 12 years old.
In an effort to generate money towards JASA, Berry, through her family, last year received a donation of a BlackBerry smartphone and had it raffled at $200 per ticket. The effort realised an impressive $55,000.
The innovative teen continued her fund-raising efforts this year, acquiring bright green wristbands imprinted with the words “Action for Autism”. Another $50,000 was raised.
The wristbands were placed in retail stores and pharmacies and were also sold by persons in the autism community.
“It spreads the message further than just raffling a BlackBerry,” Berry said of this year’s effort.
Co-founder of JASA Kathy Chang is particularly proud of the teen for her work. She said such a successful individual fund-raising effort is first for the organisation.
“The passion Arielle has for these children and the gift she has for working with them is unbelievable. All the kids love her,” she beamed.
But while Chang is pleased at JASA’s accomplishments in spreading the word about autism, she said there is still much to be done.
“We would like to sensitise persons about autism, to make it easier for families to take out their child with autism, for them not to be judged, and in general to get understanding,” she said.
The money raised by Berry will go towards JASA’s effort to establish a resource centre for parents.
“This resource centre is important because many parents don’t know where to turn when their child is diagnosed. They need a place where they can get books, DVDs, go online for information, and where they can get counselling,” she disclosed.
JASA is also lobbying for more training for special education teachers, training for all teachers and doctors to identify autistic children; and for costly medication to be listed under the National
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