A COMPREHENSIVE INTERVENTION IS NEEDED FOR CHILDREN WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES

Learning disabilities can result from injury, other deformities as physical ones and psychological traumas. Whereas some children might be born that way, others can acquire learning deficits through poor parental care.

Lack of parental care can come into play when, for example, a child -or children are left to blow up their eardrum with high volume systems placed in their ears. Some of the cases may normalize with time while others fail and become a permanent tragedy.

Always early medical attention is key for parents -which will require meeting with ear specialist -usually deal with a combination of cases -including throat and nose. If the case is related to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), then a visit to a mental health facility can be paramount.

But tentatively parents of children can seek critical coping strategies like having the child sit closest to the teacher, consider special classes for children with learning disabilities (CWLDs), take them for holidays away from the usual environments to refreshen their minds, train them to listen as they write, and be assertive on concerns of children development -including education.

Education resilience process is vital in children upbringing that parents must be keen of. Different incentives can be presented as promises to children that may be visits to a recreation park, token and gifts. But where parent conceive without planning, helpful health children interventions can be more of a dream than a reality. Children soon suffer because of their parents ignorance and wrong decisions, or negligence.

In Uganda, limited or no attention is given to children with learning disabilities (CWLD). Commonly in sight are support organizations to the deaf, the blind and physically handicapped. Even them (organizations) are handicapped.

Hardly do they reach out for cases in rural areas. Instead it is the children to middle class parents -who are accessible and, in return, gain from programs that affect CWLDs. The well-to-do parents have the resources to lobby and gain information about care and treatment or rehabilitation services -unlike the poor rural ones.

There fore, an organization that emerges to specifically champion the rights of children with learning disabilities wins a hero status from affected families. Indeed these children need special care, hope, to live in dignity, and access development opportunities.

CWLDs have been most marginalized by society and even neglected by its sub-units; the families. This, thus, calls for special attention and prompt intervention.

Any interventions in the area of CWLDs at the moment join health records as first of the kind in the country; better late than never, i must say. It has come at the time CWLDs need to be recognized as members of society, need hope, need care and love, need to be accepted and to equally access development opportunities.

Also, CWLDs need to be empowered so that they can be true members of the mainstream society, loved and care for.

Management must be one that is accountable -ensuring transparency and honesty with program funds. And monthly accountability and field activity reports be solicited from every management team member as well as from parents' management committee and sub-committees.

Jacob Waiswa
Situation Health Analysis
www.situationhealthanalysis.blogspot.com