KUALA LUMPUR – Knowing how crucial it is for those with special needs to be trained from early on to avoid aggressive behaviour is one of the reasons Raaginee Shalesh started a sanctuary for them.
Raaginee, who trained in New Zealand and later worked for 30 years in various capacities, including as a specialist teacher to those with learning disabilities, said training for those with special needs under her care involves hygiene and social behaviour.
“Many of these special needs adults and children need to be trained when they are young, especially when it comes to their hygiene and social behaviour – on what is acceptable and non-acceptable behaviour.
“Instead, many of them are left to their own devices until it is too late, and when they have reached adulthood, it is difficult to correct their aggressive behaviour.
“I have trained my teachers and caregivers so they know how to deal with this type of behaviour, and it takes time before we see results,” said Raaginee, adding that there are parents and caregivers who cannot cope with such behaviour from their children, many of them autistic, slow learners or suffering from attention-deficit disorders.
Realising this issue, Raaginee found her niche in life – to provide a sanctuary for children and adults with special needs.
Today, Raaginee runs Pusat Jagaan dan Latihan Insan Istimewa IMC in Subang Jaya, with boarding facilities in Bandar Puchong Jaya, for children and adults with severe behavioural problems.
With a total of 83 children and 11 teachers, Raaginee’s 31-year reputation as a disciplined and trained special education expert attract parents to seek her guidance on caring for their children.
Training the trainers
Having started the centre in 2004, parents began seeking her help, and today she draws up an Individual Education Plan for each child who comes to her for training
Raaginee also emphasised that although she has no children with special needs in her family, she was moved to help them out of sheer love.
All these children and adults with special needs must be trained to lead independent lives, and I have set up a restaurant for them to work at and gain experience so they can earn a living in the long run.
“Unfortunately, it closed during the pandemic and so I had to set up a small store next to the restaurant, for them to train in sorting and arranging goods for sale,” she said.
Today, Raaginee spends her time between the two centres, working with three teachers in the Puchong centre along with caregivers to iron out behavioural problems of the special needs adults and children staying at the centre.
“Sara (not her real name) was sent by her parents because she was hitting the neighbourhood children with canes, which she hid from her parents. The parents were already quite fed up and, being elderly, they could not cope.
“I told Sara that she could go back to her parents on the weekends if she changed her behaviour and stopped hitting other children.
“From that time on, she made a dramatic improvement, and when she regresses, her parents send her back to me,” added Raaginee.
Sports as catalyst for change
Raaginee also believes sports play a key role for special needs children and adults in giving them confidence and creating high self-esteem for them in the long term.
“From 2011 to 2019, Pusat Jagaan dan Latihan Insan Istimewa organised our annual sports day and together with the parents and participants, some in wheelchairs, others deaf and blind have all participated,” said Raaginee, adding that this has brought a sense of pride for every participant as they were awarded with medals.
“My main aim is also to train them in cooking, baking and housekeeping so they can be an asset one day.
“Their parents can be less stressed as their children can help them with household chores as they become older,” she said.
Raaginee took in Yap Vin Moi when she was 8 years old and today, the girl has matured into a confident 22-year-old.
Yap’s father passed away when she was young, and her mother works in China. Raaginee then made the decision to take care of her and provide a haven for the girl as she had nowhere to go.
Dr Madhyazhagan Ganesan, senior lecturer in Universiti Malaya’s Educational Psychology and Counselling Department, said many parents are unable to cope with the behavioural patterns of their special needs children.
“Many a time have I referred parents with special needs adults to Raaginee for her to correct their behaviour, as many parents are at a loss as to what to do and how to cope with their children.
“Only when these behavioural problems are resolved can the child or adult go further in his or her training,” said Ganesan who runs programmes with Raaginee, especially in sports.
Raaginee said one of the most difficult aspects of having a special needs adult or child is acceptance, and once this is in place, parents find it easier to cope with their children’s needs. – The Vibes, December 21, 2021
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