Family Life Education Series
"Mutual Support" - Part 1

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The last story was about a little boy who was deaf at birth, an example of physical handicap. After regaining most of his hearing ability subsequent to the Cochlear Implant Surgery, he is able to catch up with regular schooling. The article has attracted some enthusiastic parents phoning in for enquiries or assistance. Our professional welfare staff and members of the "Self-help Group of Parents with Special Needs Children" are always happy to help through the following telephone numbers during office hours:

Ms Fung of HQ & HKI Regional Welfare Office: 2860-2408, or Ms Lam of NTN Regional Welfare Office: 3183-9092.

Traditionally, children with special needs are classified into two main categories: physical or mental. Some children may have both, for an example, if they were born with certain brain defects; certain parts of their body functions may not have developed physically, such as defects in limps and/or organs. At the same time, they may suffer from delay of speech or other mental dysfunctions.

In a case of mental handicap, the patient suffers from below average intelligence compared with the normal intelligence of his or her chronological age group. In the 4th Edition of Diagnostic/Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder (DSM-IV), the following classification is recorded for reference:

Level	Percentage of Retarded People	IQ Levels (Normal intelligence 80 to 100)	Age Equivalency
Mild	85%	50 to 70	Age 9 to 12
Moderate	10%	35 to 50	Age 9 & under
Severe	4%	20 to35	Age 5 to 7
Profound	1%	Below 20	Age 2 & under

*Borderline Mental Retardation is generally used for a group of people who have intelligence level just a bit below average. They seem to lack the ability to apprehend and conceptualise abstract material and thoughts.

The present article is a true story written by one of the parents from the "Self-help Group of Parents with Special Needs Children", whose daughter suffers from William's Syndrome, a mental handicap, in which the patient suffers from developmental delay ranging from mild to moderate mental retardation. He and his wife have experienced traumatic changes in their attitude in bringing up their daughter. Eventually, they managed to overcome their crisis, not by any medicine or advanced technology to heal their daughter's mental condition, but by adjusting the way they perceived the world, regardless of how others perceive their daughter and her condition. They readily accept and accommodate others' limitations and hence are always eager to offer help. They have become more humble and look at what they have got instead of what they have missed. We start by translating the initial part of his article, to be followed by the second part in the subsequent issue.

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For a long time, I wondered what would go on, ever since she was born.

She was smaller by comparison and I hoped she would grow up. It was all fantasy and in reality I was learning about my daughter since her birth. I know something was seriously wrong. It was a rare genetic disease called William's Syndrome.

I have come a long way to accept the situation. When I was finally able to do so, I found relief in all aspects and I do not have to pretend any more. My wife and I comforted each other; only she knew how I felt. My daughter attends special education ever since and she is taught according to her ability and level, without pressure on her and us. She is 10 now; she can walk, write, sing, dance, swim, and play the piano. Unlike other children, there is no rush for tutoring and examination for her.

To be continued

PS & SR Branch Welfare Services Group