This paper briefly
introduces the framework of an early diagnosis and early intervention program
for Hong Kong pre-school children with special educational needs launched by
the Counselling & Research Center at the Hong Kong Shue Yan University and
LokSinTong (a charitable
organization established under Cap 151 of the Hong Kong Ordinances). The whole
program involves 103 pre-school children with SEN and their parents. Prior to enrolling
in this program, most of the children have been assessed to have autism, ADHD,
or dyslexia. In this program, the Mullen Scales of Early Learning (Mullen, 1995)
or Childhood Autism Rating Scale (Schopler, Reichler, DeVellis, & Daly, 1980)
were administered to the children by counselling psychologists to measure their
cognitive and motor abilities. In addition, their parents were also invited to
participate in the survey interview of Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales
(Sparrow, Cicchetti, &Balla,2008) and Child
Behavior Checklist(Achenbach,
1991, 1992). Based on
these measures and clinical observation, an Individualized Development Plan
(IDP) has been designed for each child. A functional approach, rather than a
diagnostic approach, has been applied in designing the IDPs, communicating them
to the parents, and providing the children with relevant individual and group
counselling and therapeutic services. Through illustration of this approach, we
hope to stimulate further clinical and public discussion in the arenas of
issues faced by children with SEN and their parents, as well as the perceived
and projected advantages of early diagnosis and early intervention.
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