It's really hazy outside. Here inside my office, I feel the haze too... Hazy from reading too many journals. I met my supervisor Prof Yap yesterday, so today is a calm day for me. I can chill for awhile.
I posted this experience on my facebook. Some gave great comments about Alif and encouragements too... Even one requested me to change to a more positive title. So from "Slow Learner' I change it to 'A Special Journey on Learning" for a positive effect.. InsyaAllah. Thank you for the comments, encouragement, positive vibes and doa.
Don't worry.. We are doing fine, InsyaAllah.
I am more worried about the #MH370 that has yet to be found. Let's all pray for their safety. I know some would think they have no hope at surviving, however I beg to differ. I still have high hopes that all the passengers and crew of #MH370 are alive and surviving. I just pray to Allah that the authorities will find them as quickly as possible. I know how it feels to lost the one you love. Believe me.
Ok, back to Alif's story....
After we got the results that Alif was Dyslexic, I broke the news to my Papa... I did mention about my concerns before. He actually googled and read articles about Dyslexia. He agreed that maybe Alif had a learning problem. Papa and Ibu has given all the support we need to keep us going. Motivated us in all ways. I love you Papa and Ibu.
In my last post http://sunshine-lynx.blogspot.com/2014/03/alif-slow-learner-part-2.html I mentioned about we had an appointment with En. Osman from Jabatan Pendidikan Negeri Selangor, right??
Well, before meeting with En. Osman, my dearest friend Reen got some information about Pendidikan Khas from her brother in law. He was the headmaster at Sekolah Rendah Putra Perdana Puchong. She told me, going to Pendidkan Khas was also a good option. That was after I went to Alif's school to ask about the special leave Puan Hajah Muliani mentioned before, and the teachers there told me that there is no such thing as cuti khas (special leave). When Reen mentioned about Pendidikan Khas, I cried. My son is not an OKU! She calmed me down and saud, you better contact people from Jabatan Pendidikan and ask.
Yup. I did that.
It was Alif's first back to school. I didn't iron on his school badge or name tag because I was uncertain of which school Alif will have to go. After a delirious and exhausting wait, we finally met En. Osman. He was..... a middle age man, soft spoken and very concerned. He asked us how did we came to the conclusion that Alif was Dyslexic?
After a long explanation, he noded in between and then he smiled.
He said, "are you really sure that he is dyslexic? Is there any medical proof?"
My husband and I was speechless.
Dr. Aziz or Puan Hajah Muliani from DAM didn't gave any report. Not in my emails, not in hard proof. Nothing.
En. Osman continued, "I suggest you go and see a peadatrician, specializing in children development" and then he mentioned a few hospitals. Government hopitals being Hospital Kuala Lumpur (HKL) and Hospital Tunku Ampuan Rahimah (HTAR) Klang; Semi-government hospitals being HUKM and PPUM, and a few private hospitals Sunway Medical Center and Sime Darby Medical Center. He told us, if you have the money and want to know the results fast, private hospitals is the best choice.
"Why should you do this test...??" he asked.
Of course we just smiled. At this point, we were lost. Back to square one.
He said, people at DAM only test for Dyslexia. Maybe Alif suffers from something else than Dyslexia. Maybe he has a combination of Dyslexia and global delay. There are endless possibilities, he said. "If Alif truly is Dyslexic or any of the learning disabilities, he can apply for an OKU card and the government will pay him RM150 per month".
The moment he said that, my eyes teared up. How can he say my son is an OKU???? He's fine!!!!!! I cannot accept that fact!!!
En. Osman sort of read my mind.
"Don't get me wrong. It's not like he is 'cacat'. It's just the privilege he can get from the government to help him grow. If you don't want the money you can just keep it in his savings.. Grow the money. The OKU card allows him to study at his own pace. He can extend his primary school up to 2-3 years if he can't catch up". The last point was the biggest privilege for Alif, I told to my husband.
After a longgggggg longggg lecture on how we should consider his suggestion, he did mention about changing Alif to Pendidikan Khas, where he can get special attention by specially trained teachers. "He will get all the attention he need," said En. Osman.
My eyes light up. That's a good plan. "However, it all depends on the test results from the peads" he add. "duhhhhh".... But, he was helpful enough to give us a list of schools with special programs (Pendidikan Khas and Inklusif).
We were so thankful to Allah to have met En. Osman. Pendidikan Khas was not his forte but he insisted to help. Alhamdulillah, may Allah bless his soul.
That same day, we went to DEMC to get an appointment with the peads.
What an encounter, I tell you.
En. Osman gave us a form that listed all the types of tests the peads should do for Alif. The problem was the title of the form...
At DEMC the personnel at the counter took the form and directly told us, "Owh, kita x buat test utk dapatkan kad OKU!!!!"
What??!!!
You can see the look on my husband's face. It turns red and only if the ears can burst steam... hahaha.. it would be similar to Popaye the cartoon!
I didn't blame the counter personnel. After explanation, she asked the staff nurse inside. Same reaction, "kita tak buat test OKU ni"... Pffftttttt... Again explain... untill they get it... I myself almost lost it when she couldn't understand our needs.She didn't even refer to the peads clinic (it was already closed, btw)... She concluded that DEMC didn't have the specialty. FULL STOP.
I didn't like the service at DEMC. However, it was still our panel clinic, so.... just bear with it.
KPJ was more helpful.
Even the specilist, a Dato' came down from his office and explained to us that they didn't have the specialist there. However, he referred us to Dr. Sofia Ali at SDMC. "She's the best in children development".
That's how we met Dr. Sofia Ali, Alif's doctor today.
To be continued.
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