About iRockit
iRockit is an organization which specializes in early child development for children between the ages of 0-6 years. We work with young children and their families to ensure children achieve age appropriate developmental milestones.
We work with children who show both typical and atypical development and our services are customized to the needs of the child and family.
OUR VISION
To make Early Identification and Early Intervention services an integral part of paediatric care in India, much like immunization is today.
OUR WORK
RATIONALE
Research proves that the first 6 years of a child’s life are the most critical years for development. 80 - 90% of brain development happens during these years. The right inputs to the child at this age by way of health, nutrition, stimulation, affection, and education promote healthy development.
These early years also present a window of opportunity to correct or mitigate any developmental concerns or conditions that may arise. With the right intervention, the child’s health, productivity and quality of life can improve significantly.
According to the World Health Organization Early Intervention is one of the smartest investments that any country can make to ensure a bright future. Early Intervention is included in the Sustainable Developmental Goals and is made available free of cost to children in the several developed countries.
OUR APPROACH
Early Intervention is a rapidly evolving discipline and over the last decade traditional approaches have given way to more effective and evidence based systems which we follow at iRockit. Here are some of the important differences in the approaches –
Traditional Approach | New Approach | |
Focus | Deficiency focused
Identify and focus on the child’s limitations |
Strength focused
When planning activities and curriculum the strengths and interests of a child are at the forefront |
Parent Involvement | Very limited
Professionals work with the child directly. Parents can observe, but are not encouraged to do so. Professionals make recommendations to parents about their child. There is no discussion, only what they know is best. |
Highly involved
Professionals work with the child and parents as a team. Parents must mandatorily attend every session. They are involved in every aspect of the therapy right from evaluation to planning to setting goals. Parents know their child best and their ideas and inputs are actively solicited. |
Skill Transfer | Train the Child
The professional works with the child in isolation and skill development happens in the limited hours that the child spends in the clinic. |
Train the family
In addition to working with the child, skills are transferred to the caregivers by the professionals through demonstration so that the intervention becomes a continuous process and gets built into the daily routine of the child. |
Role of Professional | Fragmented delivery
Professionals from various disciplines i.e. speech therapists, occupational therapists, special educators, psychologists etc. work with the child, but in isolation. They focus only on their own discipline and there is no collaboration or communication between them. They all evaluate, make recommendations and serve the child independently. |
Collaborative delivery
Services are provided by one professional – an Early Interventionist, who is trained to work with young children across all domains of development. The Early Interventionist has a specialisation in one form of therapy which may be speech, occupational or otherwise, but can cut across other domains. If a child requires highly specialised support in a domain which is not the Early Interventionists primary domain, another specialist can get roped in. |