Friday, October 29, 2010
By Naveen Mathew Menon
lack of public-funded sensory integration
centres to cater to the education
of children with special
needs, F&N Beverages Marketing
Sdn Bhd has invested over
RM80,000 in a maiden project at
Sekolah Kebangsaan SS19.For most children, sensory integration
is a naturally-occurring ability
that develops through childhood
activities. But those with cerebral
palsy, D ow n ’s Syndrome, autism,
mental retardation and other learning
disabilities need special stimul
at i o n .
The F&N Sensory Integration
Room is designed to help these students
improve their learning capabilities
and enable them to gain better
social, community, academic and
motor skills.
The F&N Sensory Integration
Room, which looks like any child’s
playroom, is equipped with the latest
apparatus and tools for the development
of special needs children.
It has a platform swing, a flexidisk,
a bolster swing, protective mats,
trampoline, bean cushions, rocking
board, target panel, sensory stimulation
kits and lots more.
The centre was set up by experts
hired by the company who are specialists
in learning disability to provide
30 children at the school with
innovative ways of learning to stimulate
their mental growth.
The F&N Sensory Integration
Roomwas officially opened on Tuesday
by Fraser & Neave Holdings
B hd ’s chairman Tengku Syed
Badarudin Jamalullail. Also present were Bajuri Abdullah, deputy director
of the Selangor State Education
Department and Datuk Kamal
Harun, national corporate affairs
manager for F&N Beverages Marketing
Sdn Bhd.
Kamal said the centre was devel –
oped with the objective of expanding
its community education programmes
for underprivileged children.
“We feel privileged that we are
able to contribute to a better future for these students. When quality education
is provided, there is a pos –
itive ripple effect that impacts the
community and our nation’s growth
for generations to come.
“While there may be similar privately-
run centres in operation, the
cost to attend one of these can be
quite prohibitive for the average income
family. Via the F&N Sensory
Integration Room, we hope to provide
more special needs children
with the tools to enhance their mental
and sensory abilities to maximise
their potential,” he said.
He added that each equipment
provides a sensory experience
which includes touch, movement,
body awareness, taste, sight, sound
and the pull of gravity that helps the
brain organise and interpret this infor
mation.
“Prior to this, the students were
involved in hydrotherapy, hypotherapy,
bowling, ice-skating and numerous
other sports-related activities
to help them with their coordination
and motor skills,” s ai d
Kamal.
“All we need to help these students
is available under one roof,” said
Rosidah Zakaria, the senior assistant
teacher for special education at
the school.
She has been working with special
needs children for 12 years.
“There are only a handful of other
schools that have sensory integration
rooms in the country.
“We are indeed blessed to be chosen
to have this centre and make a
difference in the lives of these children.
Read more: Stimulating play for mentally-challenged children http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/Stimulatingplayformentally-challengedchildren/Article#ixzz13iGghgYr