Promote, Facilitate and Support Advancement of

Knowledge, Skills, Research and Interest in Child Development and Developmental Disorders in Children

SLACD - Sri Lanka Association for Child Development

SLACD is the first professional association in Sri Lanka dedicated to Child Development.

The purpose of the SLACD shall be to promote, facilitate and support advancement of knowledge and skills; research and interest in child development and developmental disorders in children. The SLACD will strive to apply these purposes for the welfare of children concerned, their families and the community through activities determined by the Council of the SLACD.

Targets and Strategies

Promote literacy in child development
Develop programmes
Improve level of detection and intervention
Share resources
Respond to demand and public expectation
Training workshops
Regional meetings
Directory of services
Recognise special groups
Play an advocacy role
Academic and Scientific events

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President message

Sri Lanka association for child development (SLACD) was founded in 2012 as a multi –disciplinary professional organization, as a unique forum working in the field of child development and disability in Sri Lanka.

Though we are very limited in our outreach and community activities due to COVID pandemic, we have been able to conduct a series of webinars on a range of topics dedicated to educate the professionals as well as parents and public. We managed to celebrate a vibrant downs syndrome day in March 2021 with a limited crowd and share with a wider audience virtually.

We have launched a new pragramme to translate our educational webinars to Tamil for the benefit of our own Tamil speaking brotherhood, which will be a strong bridge to fill a wide gap of learning material in Tamil.

We were able to connect with children of the nation, differently abled and otherwise alike in our children’s day programme 2021 where kids sent their amazing talents virtually for us to share and appreciate. This wonderful programme connected us with so many kids and professionals and we got a response we never expected, kids all over the country sending a stunning 600 odd videos over a matter of 2 weeks which we shared in streamyard over 2 months.

SLACD is in collaboration with the co-operate sector for the benefit of children. Hand in hand with CDB we are planning to build intervention centers for disabled children in Badulla and Kandy.

Thus SLACD is exploring and finding new strengths in the trying conditions that prevail. We believe that staying together we can rise to unthinkable heights through multisector and multidisciplinary collaboration, making a better world for our kids.

Dr. Jayathri Jagoda

Consultant in Rheumatology and Rehabilitation

Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children

President – SLACD 2022

6th Biennial Scientific Conference

Await for more details in near future

What We Do

Raise Awareness

We have conducted multiple awareness programmes on neurodevelopmental disorders, early diagnosis and early interventions for the general public as well as health care workers. Our work targets the families of children with disabilities, preschool teachers, mid wives and other primary health care workers. Each year we have been able to steer special programmes in parallel to World Down Syndrome day and World Autism Day.

Capacity Building

We have taken the initiative in conducting an array of workshops to health care workers and other groups of interest who work closely with children like teachers, preschool teachers and midwives. The main goals of the workshops are to deliver evidence based knowledge and practices and to build up skills needed in recognizing, identifying and managing children with disabilities and neurodevelopment disorders. We work with other stake holders both in public and private sector and provide expertise needed for building capacity and skill development.

We have conducted several outreach programmes to bridge the gap in other districts including Jaffna, Anuradhapura, Kurunegala where most services may not be readily available.

Act as a principal stake holder in improving services for children with disability

Sensory garden in District General Hospital Ampara
“Pragathi” Child Intervention Centre in Teaching Hospital Anuradhapura
A therapeutic play area for the neurology clinic in Teaching Hospital Karapitiya

Provide expertise in developing resource materials and training programmes

We partnered with Citizen Development Business Finance PLC through the Autism Trust Fund. We have provided our expertise in developing resource materials to raise awareness about Autism Spectrum Disorder. There are multiple resource materialsincluding short videos and posters in all three languages on information on early identification of Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Act as a platform to promote and facilitate research and scientific evidence in the field of child development

We are determined to practice and facilitate evidence based medicine and interventions. Therefore, we promote workshops and scientific forums to bring up discussions on child development.

We hold our scientific conference biennially which serves as a platform to present research and engage in scientific sessions. Both local and overseas resource persons are invited to share their recent work updating the knowledge on child development.

The only professional body in Sri Lanka which combines all professions working for the betterment of child development

We are the only professional body in Sri Lanka which acts as a multi disciplinary association. We have Paediatricians, Paediatric Neurologists, Psychiatrists, Child and adolescent psychiatrists, Community Paediatricians, Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists, Speech and language pathologists, Psychologists, Social workers, Behaviour therapists and teachers committed for a common goal of serving children with neurodevelopment problems and enhancing typical child development to make a brighter and inclusive tomorrow.

Partnering with other organizations to improve services and dissemination of knowledge

We work together with both government and private sectors and professional bodies to facilitate and share latest knowledge in child development. Sri Lanka College of Paediatricians, Sri Lanka College of Child and adolescent psychiatrists, Sri Lanka Association for Speech and Language Pathologists are some of the organizations we work closely with.

We provide advocacy in matters pertaining to child development We participate in consultancy meetings and discussions held in order to develop facilities and services for children with disabilities.

We participate in consultancy meetings and discussions held in order to develop facilities
and services for children with disabilities.

We work hand in hand with other stake holders to upgrade quality of life of families of children with neuro disability

With the support of Autism Trust Fund, we support families of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. We also organize events and campaigns to support and uplift thesefamilies.

Encouraging children with disabilities

Every other year at our biennial scientific conference we give out ten star awards for children with disabilities and neurodevelopment disorders for their achievements. We make sure in all our activities they are given the opportunity to share their experience and talents.