by on 18/11/2019 2843
We all know by now that children learn the quickest within the first few years of life, which is known as the critical learning period. When it comes to special needs children, the need to start early in terms of their education becomes all the more relevant, for they have more on their plate to deal with. Early intervention alongside carefully designed learning programmes that cater specifically for their needs are essential for this special group of children, in preparation for mainstream schooling.
Before they pick out a learning centre, or more specifically, an early intervention programme for their special needs child, parents need to know what to look for, said the founder and managing director of Headstart Academy, Khairul Ramly during a recent visit to the academy at SACC Mall, Shah Alam, Selangor. It’s not at all like a national school, for instance, where you’ll know what to expect, in terms of curriculum, lessons, etc he continued, speaking from experience.
Khairul’s youngest son is a special needs child with autism spectrum disorder. Having experienced his share of ups and downs pertaining to seeking out the best centres as well as methods that work best for his child, Khairul decided to leave his career in the oil and gas industry and open up Headstart Academy, which is now run by a team of highly qualified professionals who are trained in their respective relevant fields. It’s worth a mention here that the entire team at Headstart Academy are a caring, attentive lot, each possessing a strong passion for working with special needs children.
The main purpose of Headstart is to see these special needs children, who may be on the autism spectrum, graduate into mainstream schooling and be able to cope, academically and socially as well. Each child on the spectrum has learning disabilities of their own, and at varying degrees too. They may have speech issues, hyperactivity, or may not be able to take instructions and so on and so forth, as explained by the Director of Academics at Headstart, Ms Tan Siew Lee. Hence, it could be difficult for them to have a productive and positive experience in a typical classroom setting with other children. This is where, ultimately, the Early Intervention Programme (EIP) such as the one offered at Headstart becomes crucial. It’s also important to note that individualised EIP may also benefit other special needs children who have different diagnoses, such as dyslexia, ADHD, etc.
In regard to this, time is of essence here, as explained by Ms Siew Lee, for the longer a parent waits to address their child’s learning disabilities, the more complicated it may get.
Brain plasticity, which is the ability to absorb information, is at its peak between the ages of 2 - 6 years old. The longer you wait, the harder it will get for a child, especially one with special needs, to be able to pick up what’s being taught. Pertaining to this, if a learning disability is left unaddressed in a child, he or she could be six years of age, for example, but may only be capable of functioning as a two-year-old. No matter which way we look at it, the earlier the intervention, the better it is for the child - Ms Siew Lee continued to share with conviction
It’s great to know too, that awareness on the importance of early intervention for special needs children has picked up well. Headstart holds a biannual Open Week which sees dozens of parents with special needs children walking in each time to learn more and to take this important first step.
The premium facilities at Headstart include bright and conducive classrooms, a 2,000 sq ft Occupational Therapy Gym, one-to-one therapy rooms, a remarkably unique sensory room called Snoezelen, as well as designated spots for arts & craft, music, etc. We honestly could not tell from the walk-in lounge area that the entire premise spanned an impressive 10,500 sq ft, beautifully concealed behind the visually appealing walls.
The goal of this programme at Headstart is to address the pre-assessed learning needs of its special students. The ratio of educators is 1:3, whereby they work closely with therapists on individualised intervention strategies, which includes targeted therapy. The programme uses a multidisciplinary approach to help kids overcome learning disabilities and graduate to mainstream learning. The EIP at Headstart is conducted in highly conducive classroom set up specifically for the learning needs of special children. These classrooms replicate normal kindergarten and primary school classrooms to help ease the upcoming transition into mainstream schooling. “Meltdowns are common among children with the spectrum, and that’s when the specially built Snoezelen comes in handy, where they can calm down and regulate themselves,” said Ms Siew Lee.
The one-to-one targeted therapy sessions at Headstart are key components of the academy’s overall curriculum. There are three different types offered to the children at Headstart.
Through these series of one-to-one therapies, Headstart strives to nurture and develop each child’s potential and provide them with a much better chance of heading off to mainstream schooling
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The Speech Language Therapy Sessions | |
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Aim to help children overcome their difficulties in saying sounds or putting them together into words, in understanding others, or expressing own thoughts/ideas, among other issues. Therapist also help children who stutter or have poor speech flow, as well as those who have difficulty with memory, problem solving, and other thinking skills. |
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The Occupational Therapy | |
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Is aimed at enhancing a child’s areas of strength and motor skills to blend with areas that need to be improved or worked on. The therapists help children develop the skills needed to perform everyday tasks by using creative, enjoyable methods to motivate children. |
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Positive Behavioural Intervention & Support | |
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Uses a transdisciplinary approach of evidence-based interventions. This includes the principles of Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) and other remedial teaching strategies such as Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS). This therapy is used to help children with behaviour management, social skills, cognitive skills, play skills, as well as daily living skills. |
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Through these series of one-to-one therapies, Headstart strives to nurture and develop each child’s potential and provide them with a much better chance of heading off to mainstream schooling
In ways geared to the needs of its special students, the ECA at Headstart offers an opportunity for them to participate in activities outside the academic classroom. Through an array of exciting, educational and entertaining activities, such as Gymnastics, children get to express themselves and explore areas of strengths that they could not get to highlight during the school day. Through the ECA, children get to socialise, make new friends and discover new interests that may turn out to be beneficial outlets for their future
All in all, Headstart places the needs of its student above everything else, while providing the support and intervention they need to make their way through and graduate into mainstream. The academy is thriving with their proven curriculum, their premium facilities and of course, a team of experienced staff who love what they do.
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Being a parent with a special needs child, the founder of Headstart believes in giving back to the community with their sponsorship of MBI Selangor (Menteri Besar Selangor Incorporated), providing them the space for their Early Intervention Programmes and workshops, which are held every two weeks or so for parents in the lower-income category. The academy also sponsors the space for ACP (Autism Cafe Project) owned by Adli Yahya, a well-known individual whose son is also a special needs youth. Through ACP, Adli employs young adults with autism, whereby they are able to work while building their self-confidence as well as their socialising skills.
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