What Should I Do If My Child Has Special Needs?

What Should I Do If My Child Has Special Needs?

Child with Special Needs?

Having a child is a huge responsibility that involves a couple’s total commitment, and every parent wishes for their child to be born strong and healthy. However, sometimes a child may be born different from others, or what is termed as having special needs.

Health Booklet

Every child born in Singapore receives a Child Health Booklet that documents every developmental milestone and immunisation, so these milestones are useful in helping parents understand their child’s development (Ministry of Health Singapore, 2026). This is the first indicator as to whether a child is suspected to have special needs, in which the parent can visit KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital (KKH) for assessment.

KK Women's and Children's Hospital

The Department of Child Development can diagnose and intervene for children with special needs, which includes Autism Spectrum Disorder and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and even language delays (KK Women's and Children's Hospital, 2026). KKH is the primary source for parents to turn to if they suspect or have received feedback from the child’s teachers about the child’s development.

For children with special educational needs, they have access to either a customised or national curriculum, with the following primary diagnosed conditions: Autism Spectrum Disorder, Hearing Loss, Intellectual Disability, Multiple Disabilities, and Visual Impairment (Ministry of Education Singapore, 2026). Thus, Singapore’s educational system caters to every child.

However, while there are resources available in Singapore, the biggest challenge is for parents to seek help and accept that their child is different from others. There is a harsh reality that parents may have to take care of their child until the day they no longer can. Thus, it is even more important that parents understand how to better care for their little ones and seek assistance.

References

KK Women's and Children's Hospital. (2026). Child Development. Retrieved from KK Women's and Children's Hospital: https://www.kkh.com.sg/our-specialties/child-development

Ministry of Education Singapore. (2026). Explore your child's educational journey. Retrieved from Ministry of Education Singapore: https://www.moe.gov.sg/special-educational-needs/educational-journey

Ministry of Health Singapore. (2026). Child Health Booklet. Retrieved from Health Hub: https://www.healthhub.sg/programmes/parent-hub/child-health-booklet

 

Do follow me on my various social media platforms and check out my Etsy shop!

Etsy | TikTok | Facebook | Pinterest | YouTube | Linktree | Itch.io