Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is prevalent in 44.9% of 'problematic' schoolchildren in Latvia, who were subjects of a study by the Child Support Fund. Another 31.9% of children have autism spectrum disorders. The diagnosis for the remaining children is not established – they are underexamined.
Easier to Get Rid of
What students are punished for in schools is determined by their diagnosis, however, "information about violations and their types is insufficient and hard to access," stated 57 experts from the fields of education, social services, state police, and local governments. A total of 399 parents from across Latvia participated as respondents, answering questions about their children.
And here are the conclusions drawn: "Service providers (social services, family doctors, educational administrations and institutions) lack the knowledge to provide full support to children with behavioral disorders and communication difficulties. Educators lack knowledge and there is a desire to 'get rid' of children with special needs."
No Practical Support
The study revealed that schools in Latvia lack assistants and other specialists. "The shortcomings of the support system do not allow parents to continue their working lives, creating financial and social difficulties. Parents feel burned out and left alone with their child's challenges, exacerbated by society's negative attitude. Specialists, as well as parents, lack practical support."
As a recommendation, the idea of creating a "single, trusted national information platform" was proposed, which would summarize data on all disorders – from diagnosis to legal aspects. Consultations, day centers, and group therapy should be more accessible for parents and children with disorders. Courses on working with the 'difficult' target group should be introduced into the education of future educators.
A Ticking Time Bomb
And – "to promote understanding of behavioral disorders, dispelling stereotypes and reducing negative attitudes." That is, if you see innocent teenage mischief – do not rush to judge. After all, these are children with special needs!
Of course, all this is not exclusively a Latvian problem, and not even characteristic of Eastern Europe – the phenomena of abandoned children and teenagers are widely covered in world literature from "Carlson" to "The Catcher in the Rye." However, in our case, everything is compounded by the total dominance of social networks; ethnic division; military hysteria.
And, by the way, the "security budget" being constructed by the ruling coalition will not allow for the allocation of adequate funds to pull thousands of at-risk Latvian youth out of danger. The presence of a large number of young people with deviant behavior is a ticking time bomb.
