KUCHING: The recently launched One Stop Early Intervention Centre (Oseic) at Metrocity Matang here has reached almost 100 percent capacity with 99 registered children.
Welfare, Community Wellbeing, Women, Family and Childhood Development Minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah said the centre could accommodate for 100 special needs children at maximum.
“Of the total registered children, 79 are male and 20 are female. Apart from that, only 16 of them have the persons with disabilities (OKU) card,” she told reporters at a press conference held at Baitulmakmur 2 building in Petra Jaya here today.
Elaborating on the children, she said 51 of them were diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, while 15 with speech delay, eight with global development delay, four down syndrome and one with sensory neural hearing loss.
“Twenty children have yet to be diagnosed. We are working together with the specialists from the state Health Department to assist in diagnosis service.
“Once we have confirmed the children’s disabilities from their diagnostic results, we will be able to provide appropriate intervention services for the children,” she added.
The Oseic centre was launched on Nov 30 and managed by the Society for Parents of Children with Special Needs (Pibakat).
The centre provides one-stop services for diagnosis, early intervention and rehabilitation for young disabled children, aged seven and below, under one roof in addition to provide support services to parents or guardians of the children.
Among the facilities at the centre are learning and rehabilitation spaces, a sensory integration room for simulation of sensory activities, motor skills and daily living skills, a snoezelen room for children with autism and a consultation room for examination and diagnosis.
