25 special education teachers learn multi-sensory techniques

Rotary Club of Bandar Utama assistant governor and past president Judy Chong (left) showing the multi-sensory therapy classroom in SJK (C) Sungai Buloh to Rotary members. — RAJA FAISAL HISHAN/The Star

A TOTAL of 25 special education teachers from eight schools are now able to incorporate multi-sensory techniques in their lessons.

The training was made possible through a grant from Rotary Foundation for teachers from these schools who are part of the Education Ministry’s Integrated Special Education Programme.

A participant, Lee Jun Yi, said they learned strategies to calm a student down or heighten the senses.

“We learned techniques to manage stress, not only for children but teachers as well,” said the special education teacher from SJK (C) Sungai Buloh, Selangor.

Ng Wai Fun from SJK (C) Shih Chung Pusat, Penang, said they learned how to utilise multi-sensory equipment.

“Such knowledge is important when teaching special needs children,” she said during the certificate awarding and closing ceremony at SJK (C) Sungai Buloh, which was hosted by Rotary Club of Bandar Utama.

Special needs children comprise slow learners, dyslexic, autistic, those with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and Down Syndrome.

Rotary International District 3300 governor Datuk Bindi Rajasegaran, who presented the certificates, said they started an action group focused solely on providing such facilities in schools.

“By setting up these centres, special needs children are better able to integrate in normal schools.”

SJK (C) Sungai Buloh is the first school to have a multi-sensory therapy classroom sponsored by Rotary.

A total of 30 out of its 1,000 pupils are in the special needs category.

The other trainees were from SK Taman Maluri in Kuala Lumpur; SJK (C) Kampung Baru Ampang, SJK (C) Selayang Baru and SJK (C) Wah Lian in Sungai Pelek, Selangor; SK Dato’ Laksamana Raja Mahkota in Teluk Intan and SJK (C) Min Te in Sitiawan, both in Perak.