Christine Wong

Caring corporate: (From left) Shamsimar, The Special Children Society of Ampang president Christine Wong, Dr Mooney, NASAM board member Datin Sharifah Khairiyah Syed Mohamad, Wong, Kan, Dr Mohd Aminuddin, Ven.
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Caring corporate: (From left) Shamsimar, The Special Children Society of Ampang president Christine Wong, Dr Mooney, NASAM board member Datin Sharifah Khairiyah Syed Mohamad, Wong, Kan, Dr Mohd Aminuddin, Ven.

> FIVE years ago, Christine Wong could not send her then nine-year-old daughter Amanda, who has Down's Syndrome, to a Government school because she was not toilet-trained.

So on June 7, 1999, Wong started the Special Children's School of Ampang (SCSOA).Starting with just three children, the school now has over 30 students.Wong says what distinguishes it from other similar schools is that it accepts children with any disability, at any age.

"We have children with Down's Syndrome, autism, cerebral palsy, global delay or Prader Willi Syndrome, or children who are just slow to learn," she says.

Many of them have already been integrated into normal schools but some just prefer to stay at the centre.Eighteen-year-old Kelvin Leong, who is autistic, is one such person.He runs up to his mother Kim, who has just come in to fetch him, and announces he has eaten."We had enrolled Kevin in many special schools, even government schools, but he just couldn't cope with the people and the classes or they couldn't cope with him," says Kim.

Kevin has now been with the centre for four years and is very happy.He has also shown a talent for art.

"He's showed a keen interest in art since he was young but it wasn't easy to send him for any art lessons.At one art class, the other parents complained because he would greet everyone by hugging them; so he had to stop those classes," she says.

Christine Wong, a special education teacher and founder of the Special Children Society of Ampang, Selangor, sent three teachers from her school for this one-day course.

"There is no end to learning about disabilities - there are always new methods, new techniques, new developments everyday, so we have to make an effort to learn about them," says Wong.

Ampang Special Children Society president Christine Wong said: "These children with Down Syndrome have either very soft or stiff muscles.We hope the massages will help stimulate their muscles so that they will be able to utilise their limbs better.

"Massage is one type of therapy that is usually used for these special kids," she said, adding that there were teachers who used materials of different texture like oil, rice, and flour to help stimulate the children's sense.

"Every time we say the word 'massage', the children will be very enthusiastic so we gather that this is something that they really like," added Wong.

"> "What first struck me was Christine Wong, founder and

president of the Society.She is incredible: always composed,

calm and she brightens up when she is involved with a child.

When she tells a story to a child, her whole face lights up.

She's 110 per cent there.
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or Christine Wong, President 012-222 8719 for reservations

or enquiries.

In her speech thanking the organisers and sponsors, SCSOA president Christine Wong said, "On behalf of the children, I would like to thank the organisers, celebrities and sponsors for their efforts in helping our cause."

And for Effa, the night was indeed a success."I was thrilled that we executed it so well despite the lack of time and manpower and I'm happy that people had a good time - that was important," she said.