Training for Pediatric Residents
The goal of this program is to increase the number of eligible children identified and referred for special education evaluations and special services, when significant changes in development can be made.
Worried parents, who notice behaviors or delays that seem to set their young child apart, often voice their concerns to their pediatricians. However, according to a survey conducted by the American Academy of Pediatrics, 61% of the pediatricians surveyed felt that they did not receive adequate training about childhood developmental disabilities during their residencies.
The goal of VCLC's pediatric resident training is to increase the number of eligible children identified and referred for evaluations and special services, when significant changes in development can be made. Children with developmental disabilities and autism who receive early intervention are more likely to have improved social, emotional, and educational outcomes.
In collaboration with Winthrop University Hospital, pediatric residents come to Variety Child Learning Center as part of their rotation in behavioral pediatrics. The program emphasizes the importance of viewing
parents as partners and the value of
early identification. The residents are familiarized with existing entitlements for children with developmental disabilities.
The doctors have found that their understanding of early childhood development and their sensitivity to the impact a child with disabilities has on family life increases as a result of their participation in this program.
This program provides opportunities for pediatric residents to:
- Observe and interact with young children with developmental disabilities
-Talk with parents about early childhood developmental concerns
-Increase their understanding of autism, Attention Deficit Hyper-Activity Disorder (ADHD) and other developmental disabilities
-Review the New York State Department of Health’s Early Intervention program and the Education Department’s special education system.
As the incidence of children with autism has risen to almost epidemic proportions, currently estimated at 1 in every 150 births, early identification and intervention is a major issue for millions of families, educators and clinicians.
For more information about this program contact Janice Friedman, CEO: jfriedman@vclc.org.
