Workshop on children with special needs

JAKARTA (JP): A seminar and workshop on children with special needs will be held at the auditorium of the Graha Sucofindo building on Jl. Raya Pasar Minggu, South Jakarta on Saturday.

The seminar, jointly organized by the Pantara Foundation and the Autisma Foundation, will discuss various issues dealing with treatment, school curricula and therapies for children with special needs.

The seminar will present noted educator and therapist from Perth, West Australia, along with special educator Malliga Nalu and occupational therapist Luci Webb.

Among the topics to be discussed are the Individualized Curriculum (Maliga Nalu) and the Profile of a Child with Special Needs.

In addition to the seminar, the organizers will hold special workshops for parents, teachers and related experts.

The seminar is aimed at providing information for parents and educators of children with learning difficulties.

Many Indonesian children suffer mild to severe learning difficulties, yet only few receive proper treatment and education.

The Pantara Foundation is one of a number of nonprofit organizations running special schools for children with learning difficulties.

The learning difficulties affect children's language, writing, counting and reading skills. Some children may only suffer reading difficulties, with others experience difficulties from a combination of the problems.

Most of the children have normal to high IQ levels. Many parents, teachers and even medical professionals still do not understand the learning difficulties and do not know how to cope with the problems.

Those interested in joining the seminar and workshops can contact the Autisma Foundation, telephone 7971945, and the Pantara Foundation, 7234581/2. (raw)