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An exceptional program serves diverse family needs

By on March 6, 2008

As any teacher will tell you, no two children are alike and each one learns and develops at his or her own pace. Some children, however, may need extra help in a certain area, whether it is academically, socially or behaviorally. Finding the right support for such children can be difficult when living in an unfamiliar culture. Fortunately, the Exceptional Parenting Program is here to assist English-speaking families in Tokyo through regular workshops and referrals.

Birgit Zorb-Serizawa is the current program director. “Our main goals are to provide information about the best practices and community resources, and to offer networking support for both parents and professionals. We also provide a channel for professionals to receive feedback about the kind of services that parents want and need.”

The program is run by Tokyo English Lifeline (TELL) as part of its community outreach unit and is funded by annual grants from Tokyo organizations and businesses. Originally known as Exceptional Parents when it began in 2002, the program was renamed in 2006 to better reflect the nature of its activities.
The Exceptional Parenting Program organizes six workshops a year on a variety of parenting and education-related topics. Speakers range from psychologists and family therapists to special education teachers and parents themselves. “Since we started, we’ve noticed an increasing number of kids, and thus their teachers and parents, who are struggling with different challenges,” notes Birgit. “It is our hope that the program will provide a forum for networking and sharing information.” There is also a lending library, based at TELL’s office, that parents may access freely.

“The families who come to our workshops have diverse needs. Some have children with autism spectrum disorders, while others are coping with ADHD, ADD or dyslexia,” says Birgit. “Of course, there are also families who are still searching for answers about the best resources for their particular situation.”

Eric and Masami (not their real names) are the parents of a 12-year-old son with Asperger’s Syndrome. Although he copes well enough academically, he sometimes finds social interaction with peers at his school challenging. “If your child is ‘different’ in some way, you tend to feel very isolated. When I first heard about the Exceptional Parenting Program’s workshop, frankly, I was rather reluctant,” Eric admits. “Luckily, my wife insisted we go to one, and I’m so glad she did. We’ve gotten to know other families facing similar issues, as well as receiving concrete tips and advice from professionals.”

To join the Exceptional Parenting mailing list or to receive further information, contact Birgit Zorb-Serizawa. tellparentgroup@hotmail.com

 

About Catherine Senegal