Independent living and learning

ONE of the most difficult situations that children with special needs and the parents have to contend with is going to the dentist. Yes, even regular kids get nervous when visiting the dental clinic. For children with autism, this is quite a challenge because of their sensitivity to touch. The sounds and the feel of dental instruments inside the mouth are magnified for them and the first visit is often a traumatic experience for the child and the accompanying persons. It is always expected that there will be tantrums and aggressive behaviour on the first visit also caused by a change in routine because the activity is done only once or twice a year or as the need arises.

Last month, while we were strolling inside a mall, we passed by a dental clinic. Since we were already done with our activities like going to the movies and dining, I thought of bringing my son to the dentist for check-up and cleaning of his teeth. It was not a scheduled activity at all, but my son did not display any resistance. I simply told him that we will try out this new dentist inside the clinic which he will visit for the first time. Fortunately, everything went well. He sat down on the dentist’s chair, followed instructions from the dentist to open his mouth or to occasionally wash his mouth after every cleaning of a tooth. Most of all, I was amazed at my son’s patience for the whole duration which took about 45 minutes.

I would attribute my son’s ability to “survive” the visit to the dentist to the frequent trips in the past which were organized by his school. His Transition Education Program includes trips to various service providers and public places such as hospitals, barber shops, church, government offices, eye clinic, spa, airport and such other places in the community. Aside from that, the school provides simulation activities. This means that there are times when the classroom is transformed and decorated to look like the actual facility they will visit. Naturally, the teachers are transformed into dentists in one week and become barbers or spa attendants in another week.

The children who are placed by their parents in a program that offers a balance between functional academics and development of life skills are fortunate. The best placement for them is in a program that teaches independent living and learning. There are some parents whose dream is for their child to enter the regular school until they finish college. However, this is not always the case for all. There are many children who would benefit from a program that focus on life skills which I think is more important to foster independence in adult life. Of course, we cannot put aside the importance of academics but it should be functional and not so theoretical. Basic math and science subjects may be good for them but attempting to give them chemistry and algebra may not be feasible at all.

I do advise parents to give priority to developing life skills for their child with special needs. Even for children with low functional skills, there is always an inch of hope towards transforming them into independent and self-reliant individuals.

Jane Ann S. Gonzales is a mother of a youth with autism. She is an advocate/core member of the Autism Society Philippines and Directress of the Independent Living Learning Centre (ILLC) Davao, a centre for teenagers and adults with special needs. For comments or questions, please email janeanngonzales@yahoo.com).