Assisting parents of children with special needs - Press Release issued by Aga Khan University.

Karachi -- July 03, 2020 (PPI-OT)

Following is the text of press release issued by Aga Khan University (AKU)

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Aga Khan University has partnered with a range of organisations to launch free, online capacity building sessions for parents of children with mental health issues and developmental disorders whose treatment has been disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The initiative brings together professionals from across the country including developmental paediatricians, speech and occupational therapists, child psychiatrists, paediatric psychologists and student volunteers.

The sessions will see parents receive training on how to deliver rehabilitative care and essential therapies at home if they are unable to access the usual support. For example, instructors will guide parents on how to provide therapies to help children with developmental delays to improve their functional independence, and assist parents in managing behavioural issues that have emerged during the pandemic.

Direct sessions between therapists and adolescents facing psychological challenges will also be offered, emphasising on stress management techniques. "Children dealing with development delays or behavioural disorders need ongoing, special attention," said Dr Ayesha Mian, associate professor of psychiatry at AKU. "This pandemic has widened disparities in access to essential mental healthcare and our initiative seeks to help parents continue therapy for their children at home."

Many people are suffering from feelings of fear and anxiety due to the uncertainty brought on by the pandemic. However, parents of children with special needs must also cope with the fear of their child's development regressing due to the disruption in their therapy.

"Children on the autism spectrum can regress and lose the gain they had made in speech therapy," said Fatima Karim, one of the initiative's lead organisers and a master's degree student at AKU. "Those with conduct disorders may become aggressive towards siblings or pets. Adolescent boys and girls may find changes in mood, sleep or appetite. Such behaviours may get worse with a gap in care."

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