School Readiness Assessments
A school readiness assessment is a structured tool used to assess a child’s abilities in preparation for starting formal education. A school readiness assessment is recommended when a child is in grade R and the educator has noticed, in Term 2, that the child is still behind on their developmental chart compared to their peers. In the assessment, the following tasks will be assessed:
- Fine Motor Control: Tasks like holding a pencil, cutting with scissors, and opening containers.
- Gross Motor Skills: Core strength, balance, and coordination in play and physical activity.
- Visual Perception: The ability to interpret visual information, which is critical for learning.
- Sensory Processing: How a child organises and reacts to sensory information (e.g. touch, sound)
- Self-care Tasks: Skills such as dressing, toileting, and eating independently.
- Social Interaction: Turn-taking, following instructions, and appropriate behaviour.
By examining these areas, Megan can provide a clear assessment of your child’s readiness for the school environment and suggest areas of focus for future development.
Assessment and Treatment for Children with Neurological Conditions
Neurological conditions can present a wide array of challenges that impact your child’s development and ability to engage in daily activities. These conditions can affect how the brain sends and receives messages, influencing movement, attention, and emotional regulation. Challenges Neurological Conditions in Children Can Create:
- Movement issues: Difficulty with balance, coordination, and motor skills.
- Attention difficulties: Trouble focusing, paying attention, or processing information.
- Emotional challenges: Changes in emotional responses, behaviour, or regulation.
Megan Perumal has extensive experience working with children facing various neurological conditions, including:
- Cerebral palsy
- Developmental coordination disorder (dyspraxia)
- Traumatic brain injury
- Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
- Phocomelia and amputations
- Hydrocephalus
- Microcephaly
- Epilepsy
- Dwarfism
- Intellectual disabilities
- Spina bifida
- Muscular dystrophy
- Spinal cord injuries
As the former Head of Department at a school for children with disabilities in Johannesburg, Megan worked within a multidisciplinary team to design and implement individualised treatment plans for children with physical disabilities. She utilises her skills and clinical reasoning to help develop an individualised treatment plan, considering both the child’s developmental goals and the parents’ objectives for the child within her treatment plans.
Wheelchair and Seating Assessments
For children and adults who use wheelchairs or buggies, proper seating is essential to ensure comfort, support, and functionality. Megan has an intermediate wheelchair training certification, which enables her to explore comfortable and postural seating solutions to help you reach your full potential in both educational and daily life settings. A seating check-up is important when there are signs that the current seating no longer fits properly, such as:
- Red marks or pressure sores
- Forward or side-leaning head posture
- Discomfort from knee pressure or improper strap positioning
With Megan’s expertise in wheelchair seating training, she can offer comprehensive seating solutions that address comfort, musculoskeletal support, and functionality to enhance mobility and everyday life.
Get in touch with Megan Perumal today
Whether you need support for your child’s development, assistance in returning to work after an injury, or a comprehensive disability evaluation, Megan Perumal is here to help. She provides care to address the unique challenges of each individual.
Contact Megan today to book an assessment.
