Above: The Escayg Family, Photo by Reshmi Mathur.
Hello parents,
Welcome to our resource page. We are aware that parents who have newly received a diagnosis and need to know where to turn next, can often feel alone, blindsided and confused. We are here to assist and guide to ease your mind.
If you have concerns about your little one’s development, then your first visit when concerned, should usually be to a paediatrician to discuss the issue. Sometimes, the paediatrician may refer you to a Developmental Paediatrician, specifically because they are trained to assess, identify and diagnose any developmental disabilities that may exist. There are currently four Developmental Paediatricians in Trinidad and Tobago. Please see their contact information. You can feel free to discuss their fees when you contact their respective offices.
Should you require any further guidance at the beginning or throughout your journey please feel free to contact us via email or message us through our Facebook page.
Yours in service,
Francis and Laura Escayg
Developmental Paeditricians
Dr. Jasmine Ramcharan 667-4330
77 Roberts Street, Woodbrook
& 2 Queen Street, Arima
Dr. Liesl Windsor 750-2143
35 McDonnell Street, Curepe
Dr. Prithiviraj Bahadursingh 652-4535
Southern Medical Clinic
26-34 Rupert Indar Snr. Street, San Fernando
Dr. Natalie Dick 336-0448
22 Prince of Wales Street, San Fernando
*Please note that Dr. Dick can also be located at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex where she runs the Child Development Behavioural Unit and Dr. Bahadursingh can also be located at the Couva Health Centre’s Paediatric clinic.
Psycho-Educational Assessments
For psycho-educational assessments for children who may have learning disabilities and need to be assessed, we recommend the following organisations, individuals and have also placed the link to the Psychology Association of TT’s website where you can find a listing of psychologists registered with the association, who list their specific services offered.
U.W.I. PEDIC (Psychoeducational Diagnostic and Intervention Clinic)
663-8914 or 662-2002 ext. 84511 and 84512
Family Development Centre Building
43 St. John Road
St. Augustine
330610
Email
Parenting TT (NGO) 389-6928/390-2802-385-4968
LP#66 Meade St. Extension
El Dorado
Email
Website
CKFTO (Caribbean Kids and Therapy Family Organisation) NGO, 628-3268
19 Vidale Street, St. James
Email
Website
IAG and Associates / Isolde Ali-Ghent (Clinical Psychologist), 628-4956
Brunton Street
St. James
Email
Educational Therapy
*Please note that CKFTO also offers CME Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Teacher Training. MEDEK Exercises (CME) is a psychomotor form of physical therapy for infants and children experiencing delayed motor development.
Educational Therapy is a form of therapy used to treat individuals with learning differences, disabilities and challenges. The following clinics offer this service.
Carey Phillipps, 628-9851 (Carey is also an Early Intervention Therapist and is CME Certified)
Edutherapy Limited
50 Alfredo Street
Woodbrook
Email
Website
Toni Blackett-Felix, 356-9903
Metanoia Educational Therapy
8 Cocrico Street, Orange Grove Road
Tacarigua
Facebook Page
Occupational Therapy
Occupational Therapy involves the use of assessment and intervention to develop, recover or maintain the meaningful everyday activities or occupations of individuals, groups or communities. OT’s treat a wide range of clients, however, the focus with children with disabilities can include but is not limited to, their ability to care for themselves daily, their educational activities, addressing sensory processing disorder issues and their social interactions with others etc.
To find a registered Occupational Therapist please visit the link to the Trinidad and Tobago Occupational Therapists Association’s website where you can find registered and qualified practicing OTs.
Speech Language Pathology
Speech Language Pathology is the assessment and treatment of communication problems and speech disorders. To find a registered Speech Language Pathologist please visit the link listed below to the Speech Language and Audiologist’s Association’s website where you can find registered and qualified practicing SLPs and Audiologists.
Behavioural Therapy
Behavioural Therapy is a form of therapy that focuses on increasing adaptive (positive) behaviors and decreasing maladaptive (negative) behaviors.
We usually refer parents to the following provider.
Kevin Ching, 762-4052
Developmental Behavioural Therapist
4 Walker Avenue, Cascade
Public Health Resources
The following clinics are available in the Public Health System through the North Central Regional Health Authority and South West Regional Health Authority (SWRHA).
Please note that these clinics are not walk-in clinics and require you to have a referral letter from a doctor from either a health centre, pediatrician or general practitioner.
Both clinics perform assessments on children with developmental concerns, including ADHD, Down Syndrome, Autism, Speech Delay, Intellectual Challenges, etc. The Disability Grant for minors medical form can also be filled out and completed at these clinics.
For the assessment of learning disabilities, parents need to contact the Student Support Services Division at the respective SSSD office in their area.
For North/Central residents
The Child Development Behavioural Unit and the Child Development Clinic are both housed at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex (Mt. Hope Hospital).
For South-West/Central residents, specialty community paediatric clinics operated by the SWRHA
- Area Hospital Pt fortin: 1st and 3rd Mondays 8am
- Couva DHF: 2nd and 4th Mondays, 8am
- Pleasantville Health Centre: 1st and 3rd Tuesdays, 8am
- Siparia DHF, 1st and 3rd Wednesdays. 8am
- Princes Town DHF, 2nd and 4th Thursdays, 12pm
Mental health services for children
Child Guidance Clinic
74 Pembroke Street
Port of Spain
623-2348/ 726-1324