ABDUL HAMID | The Power of Person-Centred Early Interventions

Rosie Watts
Jul 26
3 min read

EARLY INTERVENTION JOURNEY

When we first met Abdul Hamid six years ago, he was just a small boy who was low in weight and unable to sit without support. From the beginning, Abdul Hamid was supported through early interventions, including regular physiotherapy and nutrition support. Today, it is hard to imagine those early concerns - he is now independent in his movement and thriving in his physical development.

Boy engaging in physiotherapy and boy running

As he grew, another important need became clear: communication and confidence. Abdul Hamid was supported to access specialist speech and language therapy at Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital. His speech gradually developed well, although he remained shy at school. His mother shared that he was talkative at home with his siblings and often chatted freely with peers on the school bus, but he was much quieter in the classroom.

Boy engaging in speech and language therapy

To support this, Family First Ghana worked closely with his teachers to build his confidence and encourage his participation at school. Using his love of singing and nursery rhymes, his teachers created engaging opportunities for him to join in, which helped him to gradually become more active in classroom activities.

PROGRESS AND CURRENT NEEDS

Abdul Hamid is now increasingly developing in confidence. He enjoys playing with his peers and is much more vocal in both the classroom and playground. However, he is currently finding it challenging to fully access age-appropriate classroom learning activities and works below expected levels in reading and writing for his age. This means he benefits from additional, tailored learning support to help him continue to make progress at his own pace.

At times, Abdul Hamid can also be quite physical in his play with peers. His mother feels this may be influenced by the active, rough-and-tumble play he enjoys with his older brothers at home. With gentle guidance and consistent support, he is learning how to interact safely and appropriately with his peers while still enjoying play.

CONTINUED CARE PLAN

It is likely that Abdul Hamid has a global developmental delay, meaning that some areas of his development have progressed more slowly compared to other children his age. With early intervention, consistent support, and a collaborative approach between family, school, and therapists, he continues to make steady progress.

At Family First Ghana, we hold regular review meetings with children, families, teachers, and therapists. These meetings allow us to reflect on progress, listen to the child and family’s priorities, and adapt support plans accordingly. This ensures that each child’s care plan remains truly child-centred, responsive, and meaningful.

In our most recent review meeting for Abdul, the following care plan was agreed:

Educational support: we are currently funding Abdul Hamid’s teacher to provide 1-to-1 top-up classes, where he can receive more focused teaching in a supportive environment.
Family and social support: his family continues to receive guidance to help support his learning at home, and together with his parents and teachers, we are developing social stories to help him understand friendships and safe ways to play with others.