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Primary Schools & Learning Centres That Cater To Children With Autism In KL And Selangor

Many of the schools offer various therapy for children with autism, as well as individual education plans.

Cover image via Element5 Digital/Unsplash

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A common struggle that many parents with autistic children face is finding a school that can cater to their needs

This list of private primary schools and learning centres that offer autism programmes or are autism-friendly was created with the help of educators and parents in KL and Selangor.

Schools are listed in no particular order.

1. IDEAS Autism Centre, Rawang

Image via IDEAS Autism Centre

IDEAS Autism Centre (IAC) was established in 2012 in Rawang, Selangor as an effort to provide care for those in need, and at the same time to research and develop a sustainable social enterprise model that can be replicated to help underprivileged children.

They provide quality care and Early Intervention Programmes that serve young children with autism, focused on helping B40 families earning less than RM1,500.

2. Brightstars Inclusive School, Ara Damansara

Established in 2014, Brightstars is a registered special education, therapy, and rehabilitation centre licensed by the Ministry of Education and approved by the Ministry of Health. They focus on children with autism, ADHD, and learning challenges.

Their inclusive school programme follows the Canadian curriculum, with six to eight students per class with two teachers.

They also offer occupational and speech therapy, shadow aides, autism screening and developmental assessments, and more.

3. Trident International Homeschool, Ampang

Trident Special Needs School helps children with various different abilities. These include slow learners, difficulties with speech (speech impairment), hearing difficulties, and children with mild to moderate learning difficulties (under the category of ADD, ADHD, dyslexia, and autism).

They offer education in a friendly home style environment which is both comfortable and safe. Children are encouraged to progress at their own space in a positive and structured environment.

  • Website: https://www.tridenthomeschool.com/
  • Email: trident9981@gmail.com
  • Phone number: +603-42706465
  • Address: Suite 01-3, 02-3, 03-3, Level 3 & 4, Block C, Garden City Business Center, Jalan Dagang, 68000 Ampang

4. Hils Learning, Solaris Mont Kiara

Image via Hils Learning

Hils Learning is a learning centre located in Solaris Mont Kiara. They focus on children who learn differently, are struggling in school, or falling through the cracks academically or socially. Their belief is that each child is unique and there cannot be only one approach to fit all children. Through careful observation, they adapt methodologies to suit the individual child's needs and learning style.

Note: this is a learning centre and not a school

5. Eden Firdaus, Kota Damansara

A world-class facility catering for students with special needs. They have individual education programmes for EACH student and an academic curriculum that is handled by Saint Clare School for Special Education, one of the best special education schools from Singapore. They offer the following:

Academic classes, Speech therapy, Occupational therapy, Weekly swimming, Life skill activities, Pre-vocational training, Individual Education Programs, and more.

6. The Lodestone, Subang Jaya

The Lodestone is dedicated to an emergent curriculum that provides authentic experiences to children and adults with beneficial developmental programmes.

Programmes:
Dyslexia and Dyscalculia Math Sessions | Creative Art And Digital Programmes | Speech Betterment |Empower Therapy | Parenting Programmes

7. Joyous Kiddy Learning Centre, Kuala Lumpur

Image via FF/Vecteezy

Joyous Kiddy is a one-stop development center for ALL children aged 0-18 years old.

Services:
1. Holistic Competency Test
2. Occupational Therapy Program
3. Speech Therapy Program
4. Child Development Program
5. Community Support Program
6. Playgroup
7. Seminar

8. The Learning Connection, Solaris Mont Kiara

TLC offers an alternative school for children who have a variety of learning needs. They offer enriched teacher to student ratios, giving each student undivided attention.

Children are taught individually and in small groups. By utilising a team of specialists, a comprehensive individualised learning programme is created for each student.

Because TLC is developmental in nature, there is no set curriculum. Rather, each child's learning program will take into consideration developmental levels and individual needs. The learning program focuses on numeracy concepts, communication and language skills, social skills, movement and sensory issues.

  • Website: http://learningconnection.com.my
  • Email: enquiry@learningconnection.com.my
  • Phone number: +603-62036427 / +6016-2241511
  • Address: 9-3 Jalan Solaris 2, Mont Kiara Solaris

9. Sapphire Kidz, Solaris Mont Kiara

Sapphire Kidz is a special needs school for students aged two to 14. It caters to children with Moderate Learning Difficulties, Cerebral Palsy, Language Developmental Delay, Global Developmental Delay, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Asperger's, Down Syndrome, Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, Dyscalculia, Dyspraxia, ADHD, and Early Learning Difficulties.

10. Headstart Academy, Shah Alam, Damansara & Ampang

Image via Headstart Academy

Headstart Academy was founded by a parent of an autistic child. They provide a premier early intervention program for younger children with special needs. A proven international curriculum is utilised and delivered by experienced and fully-trained academic staff at premier facilities. 

They have three centres in Klang Valley, which include Shah Alam, Damansara, and Ampang.



Address: 
  • SACC Mall, Shah Alam
  • GLO Damansara, KL
  • G-Village, Desa Pandan, KL

11. Kits4Kids Special School, Kota Damansara & KL Publika

Kits4Kids Special School is a private school that provides a stimulating and conducive environment for children between 18 months to 18 years old, catering to their individual development and growth.

The curriculum is developmentally appropriate for individual children, with special needs and learning difficulties. Classrooms are equipped with age appropriate toys and learning corners.

12. Pusat Pendidikan Khas Minda, Shah Alam

An education centre to enhance the development level in reading, writing, counting, and reasoning for special needs children. They provide intervention classes and individual education plans within a small classroom setting. They specialise in Dyslexia, Autism, ADHD, and Slow Learners.

13. The Olive Trees School, Shah Alam

Image via The Olive Trees (Facebook)

A special education institution that provides new and effective educational programs for special needs children in a conducive and safe environment. They create and apply various learning programs, methods, and techniques that are tailored to the individual.

14. Hua Ming Autism Society, Petaling Jaya

Hua Ming is a NGO focusing on providing special education, training, and therapy for autistic children, as well as counselling to their parents. They provide Early Child Education Intervention for ASD.

15. Pine Hills International School

Pine Hills International School offers both primary and secondary level education, and follow the British National Curriculum. They offer inclusive education with intervention programs for children with special needs, to help integrate them with mainstream education.

16. Enso International Academy

Image via Enso Academy KL (Instagram)

Located in Taman Tun Dr Ismail with a space of over 8,000 square feet, Enso International Academy is committed to its focus on the "whole child". They strive to balance the academic, physical, social, and personal development of special needs students.

The school has an Early Intervention Programme, Cambridge Primary Education programme, and Vocational Training. The programmes cater to kindergarten-aged children until Year 6 (students aged 11).

  • Website: https://ensoacademy.com.my/
  • Phone number: +6011-14453056
  • Address: 2nd Floor, Plaza Vads, 1 Jalan Tun Mohd Fuad, Taman Tun Dr Ismail, 60000 Kuala Lumpur

17. Start LRC, Kuala Lumpur

Start LRC is a home schooling centre that offers various programs for children with special needs. The lessons are taught individually and in small groups based on the child's needs and developmental level. They provide early intervention programmes for children with ASD and ADHD, as well as home schooling guidance and individual learning support.

18. The Surin Academy, Kuala Lumpur

The Surin Academy was created by a small group of parents who happen to also be educators. They create a conducive environment to learning with well-trained facilitators. For students who are able to access academic competency such as IGCSEs, their personal learning programme will reflect their subjects of interest or ability.

For students who are unable to cope in large mainstream classrooms, they will have the opportunity to learn and collaborate with peers at their own pace within small groups.

19. EtonHouse Malaysia International School, Kuala Lumpur

Image via EtonHouse Malaysia

EtonHouse Malaysia follows the International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Programme. It includes an engaging and challenging range of learning experiences designed for the development of social, cognitive, emotional, physical, and creative skills. They also practise inclusiveness for special needs children.

20. Upward Learning Centre, Ara Damansara

Upward Learning is a community driven enrichment centre that focuses on helping students prepare for their future. They offer an American curriculum for students from early childhood through elementary, middle, and high school. Our academic program is college preparatory and holistic, preparing each individual student for success for their particular path in life.

21. Taarana, Petaling Jaya

Taarana was established as a centre for children with special education needs. It currently caters up to 53 children within the age group of six to 16 who face challenges with the regular school curriculum and have delayed development academically, socially, and adaptively.

This includes those with mild intellectual abilities such as ADD, ADHD, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, Down Syndrome, Learning Disability, Sensory-Integration Disorder, Speech Impairment, Global Development Delay, Impulsive Behaviour, Mild Intellectual Impairment, and Mild Autism Spectrum Syndrome.

22. Nexus International School, Putrajaya

Image via Nexus International School

Specialist teachers work in class alongside teachers to give additional support for children with language and/or learning needs.

  • ELL Teachers (EAL and Special Needs trained teachers) co-plan to support delivery of differentiated learning experiences as well as working with learners in class alongside the classroom/subject teachers.
  • Personal Learning Assistants (PLAs) in Primary classrooms help integrate learners on the autistic spectrum and with other complex learning needs with the learning journey.
  • The Alternative Pathway program (AP) in secondary provides specialist programs so that children with complex learning needs can continue their learning journey at Nexus alongside the mainstream curriculum.
  • Highly Able learners are supported to extend their learning through enrichment opportunities as well being challenged at Mastering levels in the classroom.

23. ORKIDS, Petaling Jaya

ORKIDS (Our Kids Are Special), or formally known as Persatuan Kebajikan Anak Anak Istimewa Selangor, was established on 6 April 2012. It started off as a support group by parents to Down Syndrome children.

ORKIDS has now turned into a full-blown non-profit educational resource centre for these special needs children managed by a group of dedicated parents, teachers, and support staff.

ORKIDS programmes cater to children with learning disabilities in general and specialised to support children with Down Syndrome.

24. GrowIn Sprouts, Petaling Jaya

For illustration purposes only.

Image via FF/Vecteezy

GrowIn Sprouts is a team of multidisciplinary specialists and experts in the industry in one place. We aim to provide you with holistic services that take into account all aspects of the child's learning.

Their programmes offer both academic and life skills for children with special needs targeting the essential components of learning. The syllabus is based on the Cambridge Curriculum IGCSE.

25. Greenhouse School, door-to-door home service

Greenhouse provides a holistic education that is mainly child-led learning. They cater to both neurotypical and neurodivergent individuals, creating education plans unique to the child's strengths and weaknesses.

They opened in 2020 and do not have a physical school yet. However, they are providing door-to-door services where a teacher can come to your home (or teach virtually). You can also opt to join a group, where a host family opens their home for a class of up to five children to learn with a teacher.

Greenhouse offers three-day a week programmes with three-hour sessions per day, and five-day a week programmes with three-hour sessions per day.

26. The Energy Source, Kuala Lumpur

The Energy Source is a specialist school that has an Early Intervention Programme for kids aged between two and 10.

They also provide physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, play therapy, music therapy, and learning support.

27. Autism Link Malaysia, Petaling Jaya

For illustration purposes only.

Image via Phichat Phruksarojanakun/Vecteezy

In collaboration with one of the World's Top 10 ABA Therapy service provider – Autism Partnership International, Autism Link Malaysia provides comprehensive Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy to individuals with ASD.

The team conducts one-on-one ABA Therapy, as well as ABA Classroom Programmes. While they are NOT a primary school, they do focus on classroom readiness skills and academic skills for school-going students. Autism Link Malaysia helps equip kids on the spectrum with skills needed to go to mainstream school.

This article was first published on Ninja Housewife with permission to distribute on SAYS.

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