The developmental clinic, Palmerston North, 1977-78 : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Education at Massey University

Abstract

The Palmerston North Development Clinic, also called the Dawn-Start Clinic, operates on Thursday afternoons between 1 o'clock and 4 o'clock. It is staffed by three people; a psychologist employed by the Psychological Service, Department of Education, Palmerston North, a physiotherapist and a speech therapist both employed on a part-time basis by the Palmerston North Hospital Board. The clinic meets in the playroom at the hospital. Children up to a developmental age of approximately 18 months are the main group catered for but older children up to about age 3 are also assessed and occasionally worked with over a period of time. All children attend with at least one parent. It is usual for six families to attend in one afternoon, their appointments lasting one hour. Parents of these children demonstrated a need to meet each other and share experiences so a Parents' Group exists which meets one evening a month at Terrace End School which has offered its staff room for this purpose. This is a parent-organised group which is informally structured and includes as its members parents of children who have graduated from the clinic as well as parents in families that still attend.