A key element of managing intellectual disability
Intellectual disability limits a person's ability to learn at an expected level and function in daily life. Levels of intellectual disability vary from a very slight to a very severe problem. Children with intellectual disability might take longer time to learn to speak, walk, dress or eat without help and they may have trouble learning in school. However, early detection and intervention is crucial to reduce helplessness of persons with intellectual disabilities in their later age. Intellectual disability starts any time before a child turns 18 years old — even before birth. It can be caused by injury, disease or a problem in the brain. For many children, the cause of their intellectual disability is not known. There is no alternative to early identification and intervention to provide them with higher quality of life. There is lack of number of people skilled with identifying and handling persons with intellectual disability. Large public and private hospitals could provide required assessment for intellectual disability if there were adequate trained professionals. The important thing people should remember that these persons are not mentally ill. However, some intellectually disabled persons might have mental disorders like others. Currently 10 public medical college hospitals in Bangladesh are operating child development centres under the department of paediatrics of the respective medical college. Shishu Bikash Kendra of the Dhaka Shishu Hospital took initiative to introduce this unit in the medical college hospitals. Parents may consult with the professionals of those centres. Service providers from NGO sectors including SWID Bangladesh, BPF, CRP, CDD, Samajvittik Medical College Hospital, Gonoshasthya Nagar hospital etc. need to strengthen facilities for early identification of persons with intellectual disabilities through their service networks. Professional and clinical psychologists, psychiatrists and other relevant professionals may contribute to building the human resource capacity of existing health care facilities all over the country. Positive attitude, commitment and coordination among different professionals, departments, institutes and ministries; as well as necessary policy guideline from the government are needed to ensure facilities related to early identification and intervention for persons with disabilities in Bangladesh.
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