[27.5.2010] electives (cont.)

i'm too lazy to edit, so here's the report i wrote for my electives that i handed in to uni. i hope i passed! :D hee. enjoy! *evil laughter*

Introduction

When it was announced that we were able to choose our own elective topic, and after much research and thoughts, I’ve decided, together with a friend, to attach ourselves to an early intervention programme centre (Bridges EIP Centre).

It is a non-profit teaching centre that helps children with learning disabilities (disorders or syndromes which affects a child's learning curve or development) to become more self-reliant. The centre is open to children below six years. They are taught on a one-on-one basis by a trained teacher, assisted by volunteers, which includes people like us.

Our objectives were to:

1. Be attached as volunteers to an early intervention programme centre that helps children with learning disabilities.
2. Have hands-on experience teaching children with learning disabilities.
3. Learn about the most common disorders or syndromes which affect a child's learning curve or development.
4. Observe the behaviors of children with learning disabilities.
5. Learn of ways to handle and discipline children with learning disabilities.
6. Know briefly the possible causes of these learning disabilities.
   

Project implementation

The early intervention programme (EIP) believes that support and help given at the earliest possible age when a disability is diagnosed or suspected gives the child opportunity to develop to full potential. With this, parents are strongly advised to send in their children for such programmes as soon as possible if needed.

The programme is a structured educational programme that includes fun activities that incorporates all the main areas of a child's development. Before a child enters the programme, he/she is assessed and the parents interviewed. With this, an individualized education plan is drawn. The children are then started on the programme and are to attend sessions twice a week, each being about three hours. For every session, time is set apart for individual work and group activities respectively. Individual work is to ensure one-on-one attention from teacher to the child, and the teaching level and speed is based on the child’s ability to catch up. Group work, on the other hand, encourages social interaction. Parents are also advised to accompany the child throughout the session. Reason being is that the parent would be able to see how and what have been taught to the child, hence being able to do follow ups at home. Follow ups are essential as twice a week sessions would not be able to help the child significantly. Whatever that has been practiced during the sessions, has to be practiced likewise at home. Without this follow up, the sessions may be as good as nothing.

My friend and I went to the centre for five weeks, during which two different sessions (morning session and afternoon session) would be carried out for different children each day. For the first few days we were there, we observed how the sessions were done. First, when the child arrived, the one-on-one session is carried out. A particular teacher who has already planned out the syllabus for the day for that particular child would teach the child specific basics. Such an example would be, the child is given two wooden sticks and is taught to hit it on each other to make sounds. This teaches the child to concentrate, and to be able to move different hands at different times at different directions. It teaches coordination and it involves touch, visual, hearing, and physical movements. Children with learning disabilities do not pick things up by themselves, as what normal children would. They have to be taught, from the most natural things like how to move the leg forward to take a step, or how to sit down without falling backwards. After the one-on-one teaching session, the children would gather together for ‘language time’. Fun activities would be done to teach them new words. Example, a picnic is carried out to teach them words like plate, cup, fruits etc.

Then, it would be ‘gross motor’. This is when the children are required to go through a certain ‘obstacle course’ where they will step on things with different textures and feel, some being sharper, or softer, or higher. This involves touch receptors, helping them to be sensitive to touch, and to be exposed to different physical touch. A break is then given to them after that where they would sit around a table, eat their snacks and socialize. After that, it would be craft time. They would be allowed to make crafts, draw, paint, color, play with plastercine etc. Lastly, there would be a singing session, where they would learn new songs and sing old songs, doing actions along with them. This is usually the most enjoyable and favorite session of all. The entire session would end with a goodbye song where the children would greet each other goodbye before leaving.

After spending two days observing, we stepped in as teachers. By having this hands-on experience, we had the chance to learn how to deal with children in general, like how to discipline them, and also to deal with them as children with learning difficulties. We got to know the different cases of each child, what are their medical problems, what may be the causes, how are their behaviors and how they differ from each other (each was very different from another, although they may have the same condition).

There were two medical conditions that were most common among the children in the centre. Autism and down syndrome. Autism affects information processing in the brain by altering the connection and organizing of nerve cells and their synapses. However, it is not well known how this can happen. Children with autism look normal but they usually keep to themselves, being in a world of their own (hence having a very short attention span) and are not aware of their surroundings. Many cannot communicate without special help. They are also especially sensitive to their senses such as touch, which also meant that they may feel uncomfortable if one tries to hug them. They may also react differently to their surroundings, being sensitive to normal sounds (example the fan) until it makes them cry. Autism is usually first diagnosed in early childhood (before three years old), when parents noticed weird behaviors of their child. Common signs and symptoms of autism involve impaired communication, social interactions and repetitive behaviors. The cause of autism is unknown, it lasts a lifetime, and has no cure. However, these days, there exist treatments which may be able to increase their quality of life. These involve behavior, occupational and communication therapies and medicines to control symptoms.

Theoretically, autism is genetic. However, this is not observed in the children I have seen (as they had no family history of autism). There was one particular case, where the parents suspect it may have been caused by childhood vaccines. This has also been widely mentioned in books and can be widely found in the internet. The parents said that their child was perfectly normal, until he was given a vaccine. It was after then, they saw significant changes, and the child was then diagnosed with autism. What was even more surprising was that, that was not the only case. There were many similar cases round the world. Books of testimonies were even compiled, where parents claimed that childhood vaccines were causing autism to some children. However, this is not scientifically proven yet. It is also believed and it can be observed that food may also worsen the condition of autism children. They tend to have a lot of allergies, and when foods they are allergic to (such as gluten (a wheat protein) and casein (a milk protein)) are given to them, their condition worsens significantly. It is believed that these food proteins are broken down into smaller proteins (peptides) that act like narcotics in autism children, which worsen the behavioral changes of autism. However, this, like the vaccines, is not scientifically proven yet. When I heard about this, I thought it was very interesting to go into research in these areas since I would soon be a pharmacist (especially relevant when it comes to vaccines).

Down syndrome is similar to autism in the sense that the child has a lower than average cognitive ability, with learning difficulties. Down syndrome is a set of mental and physical symptoms that is caused by having an extra copy of chromosome (hence, it is also known as trisomy). Those with down syndrome has a slower mental and physical development. For most cases, they would also have heart disease (a hole in the heart), dementia, hearing, intestines, eyes, thyroid and skeleton problems too. It can also be observed that they have a flat facial profile, an upward slant to the eyes, small ears, and a protruding tongue. Besides that, their eyes are further apart than normal and their growth rate is slow, hence being smaller sized than normal. It is still unknown why down syndrome would occur in random babies, but the risk of having a baby with down syndrome increases as a woman gets older. Down syndrome cannot be cured, however they may be able to live productive lives well into adulthood.

Both conditions (autism and down syndrome) ranges from mild to severe. This determines how slow in learning they would be, and whether they are able to live independently in future. For severe cases, they might not even know how to go to the toilet to pass motion or urinate, hence the need to wear diapers. Some may also need special medical attention, while others lead healthy lives. They can and do learn, and are capable of developing skills throughout their lives. But the severity of their condition would determine when they will reach these goals.

Conclusion

From this attachment, I have learned patience and perseverance. These children progress very slowly. Sometimes, the slightest sign of improvement can only be seen in months. However, it is important for us teachers to not be discouraged, to have patience, and to teach them as if they are doing well. We must also constantly encourage, support and keep them interested. This can be tiring at times, causing us to be exhausted at the end of the day. But it will all be worth it when the slightest sign of improvement can be seen. The joy of seeing them walk when they first came in not even able to crawl, the joy of hearing them talk when they first never knew how to even make a sound. The progress may be slow, but it can be very fulfilling and satisfying. This is especially fulfilling to me because I felt that I had a chance to serve others, which is why I chose this in the first place. It was a great opportunity to help those in need, giving our best and our all in order to help without expecting anything in return. We are not paid in anyway nor acknowledged with a certificate. I was also inspired by the full time workers there who does this five days a week, committing their lives to such a noble job. It is indeed not easy, hard work is required, it is exhausting, and the pay is not high. But they genuinely helped, giving the sort of love that carried the true meaning and do justice to the word ‘love’. Every child was special and was given special attention, none was neglected or looked down upon. It was indeed life changing and encouraging working at a place which has such great ethical and moral values.

Besides that, I have also learnt how to deal with children in general. Learnt of the proper ways to discipline them when needed, to not give in to their tantrums, and to be firm and strict at the right time. Children, even those with learning disabilities, are smart and they know whom they can take advantage of, whom is soft and would give in, whom they cannot mess with etc. Some parents were not even able to discipline their child, but in the centre, they observed and we taught them how to. This helped me to handle children better, making it easier for me to work with children now.

All in all, the course completed according to the original plans and objectives. Besides, we gained and learned more than expected. It was indeed a memorable time and I would like to pay them visits every now and then to catch up with the workers, the children, and to help whenever needed. It was also a pleasure to have met these people and we are now friends.