The Government’s Role in Promoting the Community on Children with Special Needs, Early Detection, and Handling

Abstract

Delays in access to assessment and intervention services for children with special needs are still a major issue. Case finding of Children with Special Needs often occurs when children enter school age. Children's development is often far behind compared to their peers at this age. This is an important issue because the speed and accuracy of accessing quality services greatly affect children's future development progress. The purpose of this study was to describe the role of the government in promoting to the public about children with special needs, early detection, and treatment so far. This research was the result of a study conducted in 2016 and 2021. The data were obtained by conducting focus group discussions on study sources, including primary care groups (doctors, nurses, psychologists, midwives, teachers, and therapists), community groups (Dharma Wanita, cadres, non-governmental organizations), and stakeholders (Health, Social, Education and Women's Empowerment and Child Protection Office). Results showed 1) Promotion efforts on the problem of children with special needs, detection, and treatment were currently increasing, but not evenly distributed. 2) Several fields in the government and community organizations have begun to synergize in promotional activities, but they were still partial. Promotion efforts to the public require more intense and integrated coordination and communication between government ors. This is very important to increase the understanding and commitment of the government to promote a more structured promotion. Recording and reporting concrete findings of children with special needs is needed as material for advocacy to government stakeholders to increase the priority scale of attention to efforts to promote children with special needs and their handling.