Residential Treatment Center for Children with Intellectual Disability
Having children with intellectual disability can be a very trying time for parents. On one hand they want to shelter their child from the world. On the other though they want the child to be self sufficient in certain things. As the child gets older simple things to most of us including using the bathroom, hygiene, eating, and getting dressed can be very limited. It may be the right choice to enroll the child into a residential treatment center for a period of time.
What is offered for children with intellectual disability?
In this type of setting, children with intellectual disability can get the level of care that is necessary on all accounts. A full assessment of the child’s needs is evaluated before he or she is admitted to the program. Then a plan of action is determined so that various goals can be met. Basic needs are part of the program so that the child can be come more self sufficient.
Depending on the cognitive abilities of the child, some education may be encouraged and part of the program as well. Effective means of communication are part of the program as well. It is important that a child with intellectual disability have effective means for communicating with their family and other people. It is also effective if they are able to understand what is being said to them.
Exploring the emotions of the child
Children with intellectual disability have lots of emotions and they need to be explored. They need to be able to express when they are happy, sad, angry, or experiencing any other emotion. They may not know how to do this other than hugging someone when they are happy, crying when they are sad, or having a tantrum when they are mad. Through therapy though they can start to find more effective ways of expressing their emotions that are socially acceptable.
Explore the program
To feel confident in a residential treatment center for children with intellectual disability, you need to explore the program in great detail. The more you know about what is offered and how the program operates, the easier it will be for you to decide if it is a good place for your child.
The goal should be for them to be placed with people that are at the same level of ability or higher. You don’t want them to be placed with individuals at lower levels. This is because your child could pick up some of their behaviors. As a result, they may end up regressing rather than moving forward with the treatment plan that has been outlined for them.
How long will the program last?
The length of a program for the child will depend in a variety of factors. It is understandable that the family will want them back home as soon as possible. However, the entire family will be more comfortable with the situation if the child is able to be included in various things, to communicate, and to take care of some of his or her own basic needs.
A child with a low cognitive ability won’t be able to learn as much as one with higher levels of ability. Being realistic, the program is designed to help each child with intellectual disability to reach their own full potential. That can be gained in a few weeks, a few months, or even a year. The longer the child is in such a program the more difficult it can be to successfully reunite them with their family. Keeping the distance between them very minimal is a very important part of this form of residential treatment program.
Family interaction and support for the childÂ
If possible, place your child in a residential treatment center for children with intellectual disability that are close by. That way the family can go to visit as outlined by the facility. This is a great way to keep everyone interacting and for a treatment plan to be devised with the family in mind. The ultimate goal should be to integrate the child back into the family at some point.
This transaction will be eased if the family is really prepared for it. If they know what the child is learning at the facility, then they can follow through with using similar methods at home. There is a great deal of learning for everyone to be involved in. However, it can help to make sure the family is a happy one and that the fact of a child with intellectual disability being part of it is taken into consideration on a variety of levels.
Additional resources you might be interested in:
Resource from American Psychiatric Association for Parents
What You Need To Know About Mental Health Residential Treatment Centers