Family course for children with developmental language disorders

Kela provides family courses for children with developmental language disorders. The adaptation training is multidisciplinary and group-based.

At the course, the child and the family are provided with support to manage problems in their daily life and help to handle the situation. The aim of the rehabilitation is to improve functional capacity, life management and self-care skills. At the course, the family is also given information about the developmental language disorder from which the child is suffering and about rehabilitation practices and support networks available in their area.  

The family course is suitable for children who have been diagnosed with a developmental language disorder.

Rehabilitation is arranged for the following target groups:

• children under school age
•  children starting school
• children in primary school
• children in lower secondary school.

The family course is suitable for children.

Purpose of the course

The aim of the course is to provide comprehensive information and guidance for the child and the family and to help them live a full and meaningful life despite the child’s the child’s language disorder. Rehabilitation is also a way of strengthening the family’s resources and life management skills as well as a means of providing support for the family and its support networks. It also provides opportunities to meet other families who are in a similar situation.

Content of the course and implementation

The rehabilitation is implemented as group rehabilitation taking the child’s and the family’s goals and individual need for rehabilitation into consideration.

The course includes group discussions and working in small groups, a variety of activities as well as individual interviews, meetings and discussions with rehabilitation experts.

The rehabilitation is arranged on the service provider’s premises. Each course lasts 8 days and it is divided into 2 periods (5 days + 3 days). 

The child’s family accompanies the child throughout the rehabilitation. As a rule, 1 to 2 adult close relatives and up to 2 siblings participate in the family course. Siblings under the age of 2 can always participate in family rehabilitation.  If a child has more than 2 siblings over the age of 2, Kela will assess whether it is necessary for them to participate in the rehabilitation. We will also ask the service provider if they are able to plan and carry out the rehabilitation in a way that makes it possible for several siblings to participate.

The family can stay overnight at the place of the rehabilitation or travel there from home each day. 

Course personnel

The course is implemented by the following experts:

• specialist in speech and sound disorders or pediatric neurologist
• speech therapist
• psychologist
• special-needs teacher or special-needs kindergarten teacher
• social worker, Bachelor of Social Sciences, rehabilitation instructor or Master of Social Sciences (major subject rehabilitation science).

Depending on the child’s individual needs, other rehabilitation professionals and assisting personnel may also take part.

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