FORUM PRESENTATION SLIDE

LEARNING DIFFICULTIES OR COGNITIVE DIFFICULTIES

1. What is ‘Special educational needs’?

Learning difficulties as a result of a physical or sensory disability, emotional and behavioural problem, and developmental delay.

      2.  Ways in which children learn:

• Practical and first hand experience
• Senses
• Relating new experiences to previous learning
• Developing understanding through talking
• Learning at different rates and levels
• Purposeful repetition, practice and reinforcement
• With the availability of care, tolerance, and praise.

      3.   Types of learning difficulties:

1. Mild learning difficulties.

·        Mild conductive hearing loss (e.g. ‘glue ear’)

·        Slight physical disability (e.g. mild cerebral palsy)

·        Poor eye coordination

·        Hyperactivity

·        Slow to develop reading and writing

b.   Moderate learning difficulties.

·        Poor memory

·        Short attention span

·        Low interest in academic subject

c.   Severe learning difficulties.

·        Downs syndrome

·        Brain damage as a result of tumour

·        Oxygen deprevation at birth

d.  Profound and multiple learning difficulties.

·        Severe physical disabilities

·        Severe learning difficulties

·        Loss of hearing or sight

·        Little or no speech

e.  Specific learning difficulties.

·        Dyslexia

f.  Emotional and behavioural difficulties.

·        Withdrawal/shyness

·        Depression

·        Extreme anxiety and compulsion

·        Aggression

·        Bullying

·        Defiance

g.  Physical disability.

·        Cerebral palsy

·        Spinal bifida

·        Muscular dystrophy

·        Diabetes

·        Epilepsy

·        Asthma

h.  Sensory impairment.

·        Visual impairment

·        Hearing impairment

i.  Language and communication impairment.

·        Receptive language

·        Expressive language

  j.   Communication impairment

Limited understanding of jokes and ironic content of language

·        Poor play skills or use of imagination

·        Stereotyped behaviour or routine

4.   Usefulness of supportive role:

·        To promote independence

·        To inspire confidence

·        To promote a sense of value

·        To foster peer group acceptance

·        To enable the child

At clementina’s, it is our belief that children should have the opportunity to develop to their full potential.We develop programmes for children with difficulties such as autism, cerebral palsy, downs syndrome, and specific learning diff such as dyslexia, dyspraxia, attention deficit disorder etc.

There is much that can be done to help children with special needs enjoy an improved quality of life, and at clementina’s we work to make this a realization.

There is no miracle cure, but we are able to provide help where and when we can by providing a holistic programme, which can be revised any time, and we are always honest about what we believe we can achieve. Where we cannot help, we will refer to an alternative  service provider in the same field. With us, no family is ever turned away.

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MRS. FOLAKE MAKANJUOLA’S OPENING REMARK

 CLEMENTINA'S 1^ST ANNUAL FORUM

AT GOLDEN GATE RESTAURANT IKOYI

ON 19^TH JUNE 2004

The Chairman for this occasion, Dr. Bolaji Ajenifuja

Mrs.Olalandu, representing our Patron Dr. Femi Mobolaji-Lawal

Childcare Professionals

Invited Guests

Parents

All Other Protocols Observed

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,

I will like to welcome you all to this forum. 

Without a doubt, I’m sure that we all agree that children are the most precious gifts from God.  For emphasis, I mean ALL children.  As parents, who were also children once upon a time, we are first and foremost custodians of the little ones and it’s a calling which no responsible parent takes lightly.  Indeed, the ultimate responsibility for nurturing our young ones lies with parents.  However, the larger family circle, the immediate community, the society at large, and the government all have important roles to play.

At today’s forum, being organised by Clementina Support Services, the spotlight of our deliberations will be on children with special needs.  We have therefore chosen:

v     Helping Children with Special Needs as our theme for the forum.

More specifically, the focus of our presentations and discussions shall be: 

v     Supporting children with learning, behavioural and emotional difficulties

v     And Interactive session opportunity with professionals

In line with the foregoing, a primary goal of Clementina Support Services is to champion the development of children with special needs through programmes aimed at:

§         Early intervention services

§         Family support facilitation

§         Specialised childcare and learning support

§         Parent and community education

By creating greater awareness and bringing affected parents and childcare professionals together like we have done this morning, we seek to assure parents that they are not alone.  Furthermore, by learning from experts who have been professionally trained and those who have been exposed to how other countries and societies take care of children with special needs, hopefully we can begin to organise ourselves into support groups and build up a stronger foundation for local support services. 

Needless to say, in a society where financial resources are inadequate to cater for “normal” children, it is not surprising that very little attention has been paid to physically disadvantaged children or those with cognitive disabilities.  As we all become more aware and enlightened, collectively we should begin to promote innovative and more compassionate ways of looking after the most vulnerable amongst us.

Most definitely, children with special needs can be classified as belonging to the category of the most vulnerable people within our society who need as much, if not more care, than “normal” children.  As parents, we must strive to ensure that all children, regardless of their abilities or disabilities, are given a fair opportunity to succeed in life.

At this junction, please permit me to explain a few points about our special children and why we need to support them.

                                                             PRESENTATION

Let me close by saying thank you, Your Excellency, you were kind enough to accept our invitation to honour this event. 

Our dear Chairman Dr. Ajenifuja, Mrs. Olalandu representing our patron Dr. Femi Mobolaji-Lawal, parents, invited guests and all other distinguished ladies and gentlemen for your kind attention.

May God bless you and all your loved ones.

Mrs. Folake Makanjuola

19^th June, 2004