A daycare center is a place for children with disabilities. The development of these children is central and is stimulated as much as possible. This is done through therapy and guidance. Together with the child and the parents, these elements ensure that the child can achieve as much as possible. After this process, we look to the future. This can be in the form of special education, but daytime activities or supervised work can also be considered .
What is a daycare center?
In a children’s day center (also called KDC), children between the ages of 2 and 18 with an intellectual or even multiple disability can receive help. They are placed here following a medical indication. The center has various types of care providers who offer different therapies to stimulate the development of the children. There is speech therapy, play therapy, music therapy, occupational therapy, physiotherapy and (group) lessons are used to work on development in a playful manner. The aim is to allow children to progress to special education, if possible. If this is not an option, daytime activities or another form of assistance will be looked at further.
Difference in medical daycare
The medical daycare center is often confused with a childcare center. The difference between a daycare center and a medical daycare center is mainly the target group. Children up to about eight years of age come to the medical daycare center with developmental or behavioral problems. The child is examined and treated here. Generally, this process takes about a year. Most children then move on to regular or special education. In a childcare center there are a lot fewer children who have the chance to move on.
Help from the daycare center
There are various therapists in the children’s day center and the children are supervised in a small group by a group leader. These therapists and the group leader ensure that development is stimulated under the guidance of a remedial educationalist. This orthopedagogue provides plans, guidance and monitors the development of the children. Children are taught skills that make them more independent or give them more possibilities.
The groups the children are in are often organized according to level or developmental needs. For example, there may be a separate group with children with autism, children who have more questions about behavior or who need specific care. There are also groups that prepare children for school or other follow-up steps such as daytime activities.
Processing process
It can be very difficult for parents to see their children go to a daycare center. They had plans for their child’s future, which now need to be adjusted. As a care provider within the daycare center, it is important to consider this. This means that it is important to explain, think along, celebrate small successes, but also to simply listen. The daycare center plays a major role in this process and will guide parents in this. The center also provides help in the areas of education and behavior. Sometimes there may be an outpatient counselor in the family, who works together with the daycare center. This guides parents in dealing with their child, but can also play a role in the coping and acceptance process of the entire family .
Funding
If a child needs to go to a daycare center, this help is often funded by the municipality. These costs are reimbursed on the basis of the Youth Act. How this assistance can be requested varies per municipality. Placement in the childcare center can also be arranged based on a referral from a doctor. Often no indication from the municipality is required and assistance can be started immediately. Because there are not many daycare centers, distance is often a problem. That is why the municipality usually looks for a way to arrange this transport.