AR
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The COVID-19 pandemic has severely impacted children of determination after schools were forced to close down due to lockdown measures and remote learning posed a difficulty in their development.
According to Dr Timothy Shriver, Chairman of Special Olympics, children of determination particularly lacked social interaction which increased their mental health concerns.
Addressing a session on ‘Reflecting on our systemic responses to the impact of Covid-19 on Children of Determination’ at the World Early Childhood Development (WED) forum in Abu Dhabi, Shriver explained both physical and psychological impact of the pandemic on children. He added that children of determination were not equipped with dealing with such difficult situations due to their compromised understanding and processing capabilities.
“COVID-19 disturbed everyone’s daily routine and children of determination could not mentally process the situation arising out of the pandemic,” he underlined.
Shriver said that children of determination are often considered the most vulnerable yet significant members of society.
"They deserve a chance to reach their potential, live a healthy, safe and happy life, thrive, learn and have the opportunity to contribute to their communities," he added.
The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated a need for enhancing efforts to provide the necessary support to children of determination and their families.
The panel witnessed discussions on various challenges facing society and the need to change perceptions of “disability”. It is important for the world to see the gifts of each child. Furthermore, all community stakeholders including government, educational institutions, private sector, municipal bodies, urban planning entities, healthcare institutions, parents and caregivers play a crucial role in encouraging Children of Determination to lead meaningful lives in a world which is welcome for all.
The expert also highlighted that many children are disabled due to unprecedented neglect and certain unjust systems in many parts of the world.
“Many disabled children in many parts of the world are not given a chance to get an education because of their physical or mental disabilities,” Shriver said.
Shriver added that the Special Olympics is embracing technology and supporting families in early childhood development with the creation of the first developmental digital tool. It is designed to support the needs of children of determination and their families.
He stated that the digital tool would provide individualised guidance for development in the form of fun exercises, geo-mapping of local developmental services and parent-to-parent safe social platform.
The session also provided various ideas to address the gaps in the support for children of determination.
Some of the suggestions include utilising technology to support learning outcomes for Children of Determination. The Forum also focused on ethical questions related to monitoring and reviewing the development of children through technology. Experts further shed light on extending responsible gaming habits among children and parents among other topics.
SOURCE: Khaleej Times