Supporting parents to support children
Modern research has shown that the model of medical practice that focuses on therapies (speech therapy, occupational therapy, behavioural therapy, etc) for children with special needs alone is woefully inadequate and ineffective.
Increasingly, it has been proven that empowering, educating and supporting parents is the most effective way to help these children thrive.
By equipping caregivers with psychosocial support in the form of skills, knowledge and resources, the fabric of the whole family system is being held together.
All around the world, different models show how this principle has worked.
Early detection and early intervention is always an important first step because of the neuroplastic nature of a child’s developing brain.
Platform
In countries such as North Macedonia, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) partnered the government to create an online early intervention platform for children with developmental delays and disabilities aged 0-6.
Through this platform, parents receive guidance on developmental milestones and identification of early signs of delay.
Parents are offered exercises to stimulate development, and are further connected to specialists who can help create individualised development plans.
This means caregivers with Internet access can receive support tailored to their child’s needs, wherever they live.
Such families often have emotional, social and economic needs.
It is not enough to provide therapeutic knowledge.
This is why in countries such as Uganda, there are organisations that run Parent Support Clubs to provide caregivers with practical skills.
Parents form networks that help with advocacy, income-generating activities and community leadership.
The confidence of parents is assured through such exposure, and parents become well-informed to influence policies and practices that affect children with disabilities.
Similarly, in Malaysia, there are parent-led groups which are supported to offer workshops, social support, and shared resources for families navigating neuro-developmental challenges.
These grass-roots networks help reduce isolation and give parents tools to support their children’s learning and well-being.
Emphasis
In many places, the emphasis is shifting from professionals doing things to a child to teaching parents how to help their children every day.
The Hanen Centre, based in Canada, for instance, is a leading example of this model.
It offers evidence-based programmes that train parents and caregivers to support children’s language and social development at home and in daily routines.
Instead of children attending clinic sessions alone, parents learn strategies they can use in play, reading, and everyday interaction, making therapy ongoing rather than episodic.
All over the world, non-governmental organisations play a major role in filling gaps left by public services.
In Israel, non-profits such as Shalva provide comprehensive support ‒ including therapies, inclusive education, respite care and family counselling ‒ at no cost to families.
By offering accessible services and community integration programmes, these groups ease the practical and emotional burden on parents.
Funds
There are, in addition, existing Funds that support families by helping cover the costs of equipment, treatments, education, and care for children with special needs from low-income households, recognising that financial strain adds enormously to caregiver stress.
Some international agencies have also been committed to promoting broader reforms that link social protection, health care and education to ensure families of children with disabilities have a safety net.
In some countries, home-visiting services help identify developmental concerns early and connect parents with supportive services.
In humanitarian settings such as Syria, case managers provide home-based assessments and small but regular cash assistance to help families afford essential services.
In Ghana, though progress has been made in this direction, many challenges remain.
In some regions, services are too far away, too expensive, or socially stigmatising, meaning many families are still left without support.
There is also a persistent gap between policy commitments and implementation.
Still, the global picture shows that when parents are supported with knowledge, resources, community, and policy backing, children with special needs are more likely to progress, families are less stressed, and societies benefit from inclusivity.
The evidence is clear: child development is a family journey, and the best outcomes begin with empowering parents to lead it.
The writer is a Child development expert/ Fellow of the Zero-To-Three Academy, USA.
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