EARLY INTERVENTION PROGRAMME

For Infants and Children (EIPIC)

The Early Intervention Programme for Infants and Children (EIPIC) was established on 1 April 2005. It provides early therapy intervention for children aged between a few months old to 6 years old, suffering from one or more disabilities. EIPIC prepares these children for admission to a Special Education School or the mainstream school environment. The immature brain of a young child is capable of remarkable recovery to a great degree. The final wiring occurs after birth and is governed by early experiences. Therefore the aim of EIPIC is to maximise the developmental growth of each child by providing holistic and individual developmental programmes.

Programmes and Intervention Strategies utilised by the EIPIC Department are guided by the following principles:

  • Assessment Evaluation and Programming System (AEPS)
  • Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA)
  • Treatment and Education of Autistic Child and Communication Handicapped (TEACCH)
  • Sensory Integration
  • Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS)
  • Makaton Language Programme
  • Handwriting Without Tears
  • Developmental Individual Difference Relationship-based/Floortime Approach
  • Hanen Programme

Roles and Responsibilities of EIPIC

  • To provide holistic and individual developmental programmes for the child
  • To prevent and minimise the risk of secondary disabilities through support and training for the child and family
  • To provide rehabilitative, therapeutic and supportive services
  • To provide integration support to mainstream preschool

The EIPIC programmes include:

Community Integration Programme

This plays an important role in decreasing stress and enhancing emotional well-being by developing healthy interpersonal social skills in unstructured situations.

Multimedia Fun Programme

Is a theme based courseware programme that combines language, mathematics, music, art, themes, stories and other resources. It is full of interactive activity lessons that help children understand new concepts and skills easily.

Parents and Caregivers Support Group

We believe that contact with other parents and caregivers facing similar situations is one of the best ways to break through times of isolation and despair. The objective of this programme is to bring parents and caregivers together to share information, stories of success and hardships in a non-judgmental manner.

Sibling Support Group

This programme helps to increase the peer support and information opportunities for the brothers and sisters of EIPIC students. Sibshops is a collaborative effort between EIPIC and the Social Work department.

SCOPE (Spastic Children's Outreach Programme and Education)

SCOPE is an integration programme to bridge the gap between the Early Intervention Programme and mainstream preschools. The programme offers learners with different childhood disabilities the opportunity to participate in regular education preschool experiences alongside typically developing children.

A designated SCOPE Interventionist accompanies the learner to the preschool to facilitate the child's participation in the classroom. Support may include provisions of various prompts, or the implementation of specific skills acquisition programmes and motivation systems aimed at promoting a learner’s independence and responsiveness to new teachers or peers. Regular meetings with our SCOPE partners and parents are held to ensure that all parties are working on similar goals and expectations.

EIPIC Water-Play Class

Water Play Classes or Hydrotherapy, in collaboration with the Physiotherapy department, focuses on helping children with Cerebral Palsy to relax their muscles and move their limbs freely in the water. The water buoyancy provides support, relieves weight-bearing pressure on the joints, and enables them to move their limbs much easier as compared to being on land. The warm water also reduces pain and relaxes muscle spasms.

Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS)

Individuals with communication disorders are often unable to use typical means of communication such as speaking or writing. Even gestures such as pointing do not come naturally for them. However they can still communicate using alternative methods. PECS is an alternative/augmentative tool that teaches children and adults with autism and other communication deficits to initiate communication. EIPIC provides 10 one-to-one PECS sessions per child, after which the PECS training will be carried out in the classroom setting

Holiday Programme - Inline Skating

The Inline Skating programme imparts skating skills and techniques in a child-centred approach. Participants acquire a good foundation in essential skating skills to skate safely and independently. Interactive games and props are especially designed and strategically positioned at different stations to reinforce skating skills to stimulate active participation in a non-threatening environment. Integrated physical activities aim to build endurance and body functions in power, agility, flexibility, speed, balance, and coordination through developmentally appropriate practices.

Holiday Progamme - Photography Class

Photography is a very good way for all children to explore their creativity. It is also one good way to teach fine motor skills and a greater sense of responsibility especially in regards to handling electronic equipment. Things that most people take for granted, such as inserting batteries, activating a camera, taking a photo and downloading images, can be a great learning experience for children with special needs. It allows a definite way to express one’s artistic side and improve the awareness of one’s surroundings. It also fosters communication skills, as the child with the camera will have to tell human subjects how they should pose.

Holiday Programme - Social Group

Social Group fosters peer interaction and improves communication skills. Activities are designed to entice children to communicate and interact with each other.

EIPIC Admission Criteria:

  • Few months old to 6 years old
  • Children diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Chromosomal Abnormalities, Down Syndrome, Global Developmental Delay, and communication disorders

Contact Details

The Early Intervention Programme for Infants and Children (EIPIC) is located on the 4th floor of the Cerebral Palsy Centre

Tel: (65) 65855647
Fax: (65) 65855603
Email: spastic@pacific.net.sg