Riga opens rehabilitation programme for children with ADHD

Riga has opened a social rehabilitation programme for children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), LSM reports, citing Latvian Television. Called “Re, starts!”, it is for children aged six to nine who attend grades one to three at Riga municipal schools.

For eight months, participants will attend the programme daily while remaining enrolled at their regular schools. The programme, developed by Restarta School, uses a school-like setting to help children regulate their emotions, cooperate with others, organise their work and learn school subjects. Its aim is to prepare them to return to their municipal schools.

The team includes a psychologist, social worker, behaviour analyst, occupational therapist, speech and language therapist, teachers and other specialists. Parents and the children’s schoolteachers will also take part.

Clinical psychologist Sofija Semenova said an initial assessment would help determine each child’s needs. ADHD affects children in different ways, she said, and school environments do not always take those differences into account or help children develop the skills they need.

The school’s head said ADHD affects an estimated 5% to 7% of children, meaning there may be children with the condition in every class and every school.