Working with special children for more than half of his life had made Caven S Mcloughlin ever-so-slightly nervous about having children of his own. And that is why the Professor of Paediatric Psychology at Kent State University ended up becoming a dad much later in life. Giving birth to children with a disability can be a life-changing event for any parent. Parents have to be acceptant of the fact and a lot more sensitive. The reputed author and medical researcher spent some time with the eager young medicos of Sri Ramachandra University, Chennai, after which he got talking. Excerpts:
How did you start this journey?
I was a teacher before I decided to become a psychologist. I was working with a school for children with disabilities, where I used to work with kids aged 13-16 years . It was then that I realised that if these children were given treatment as early as 3-4 years, they would be in much better shape and this can be achieved by working with their mothers. So I became a paediatric psychologist and found that there needed to be more people like me. and so I began training professionals including psychologists, speech language pathologists, occupational therapists and nurses to work with infants, babies and children to cope with their disabilities.
What change can you see in today?s India to deal with disability?
In my twenty years of working with these children, I can finally see the possibility of a person born with a disability living a productive life. Earlier, children were abandoned, in rural areas, or they succumbed to starvation and medical services were withheld. The disabled person would not be treated because it was believed to be God's will. Now that obstacle has been removed.
Tell us about paediatric psychology
It involves the treatment of children with disabilities by working with their parents in tandem. It is a much sought after area in the North Eastern quadrants of USA and for reasons nobody knows or understands, more children with disabilities are found in this part. Still, there is a shortage of personnel with the appropriate training and skills in this area.
What is it that you have dealt in your last book Disproportionality in Education and Special Education?
The book essentially speaks about the underclass group in America. The African Americans are negatively viewed by the teachers and are given fewer opportunities. On misbehaving in class they are even kicked out of school and they stop learning. The equivalence in India would be the treatment of the Dalit population who are forced with limitations. I was pursuing this research primarily because of the objection to fundamental inequality. Those who have status keep status, while those who do not, are left to feed on the remains. I have suggested various policies in the book for the government.
You're a very sought after research guide. Tell us a bit about that side of your work?
I have been called to guide the medical faculty and professors on the researchactivities that they are required to do by the medical council in order to get their work published. Students need to work together with professionals. So, in a room, a speech language pathologist, clinical psychologist, physician and paediatrician, who are usually kept apart, can all come together and are taught together. This practice is as good as in America, where there is a lot of stress on inclusive learning. The interdisciplinary faculty in SRU and Tamil Nadu is stronger than any developing country including Cambodia, China, Vietnam, Japan, where professionals are trained separately. Hence, students must come here to learn and be moulded into medical professionals.
Dr. Mcloughlin has been involved in federally funded training of interdisciplinary leadership personnel working with toddlers, infant, and newborns for 25+ years. He has authored, edited or contributed to ten books, and over 100 published research articles and chapters. He is the Editor of School Psychology International Journal.
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