'Raise Special Childcare Centres’ Age Limit To Six For Better Early Intervention

As of July 2026, about 17,000 children with disabilities (OKU) across various categories, aged below six, were registered with the Social Welfare Department (JKM).

Of this number, about 13,500 were in the learning disability category, including children with autism, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), Down syndrome and dyslexia.

Despite the sizeable number, there are only 11 JKM-registered specialised childcare centres (Taska OKU) for children with disabilities nationwide, including three for children with Down syndrome and six catering to children with ADHD/autism.

The limited availability of Taska OKU has forced many parents of children with special needs to take a “learn-as-you-go” approach to ensure their children receive the best possible care and support to prepare them for adulthood.

CHALLENGES FACED BY PARENTS

Mohd Amin Azuwar and his wife have a four-year-old daughter and a six-month-old son. Both children have Down syndrome.

Initially, they had to learn on their own how to care for their special-needs children.

“The biggest challenge for us is not our children, but the system. Once a child is diagnosed (with a disability), parents have to figure out everything on their own – where to go next, what early intervention means and who can help,” Mohd Amin, 38, told Bernama.

He had to quit his job as a data analyst after his daughter was born to focus on caring for her. He now works in AI development, a field that offers greater flexibility in terms of working arrangements. His wife is a teacher.

Mohd Amin said his experience in caring for his daughter helped him manage his second child more effectively. His daughter was eventually enrolled in Taska Anak Istimewa Sindrom Down (ANISD) – of which he is the chairman – in Putrajaya, where he lives with his family.

(ANISD is among the 11 Taska OKU registered with JKM. The other two centres specifically for children with Down syndrome are located in Kubang Kerian, Kelantan; and Kota Kinabalu, Sabah.)

Pointing to the need to establish more Taska OKU nationwide, Mohd Amin shared the story of a family that decided to move from Penang to Putrajaya to ensure their child could attend ANISD.

“This is not an extraordinary story, but it reflects just how limited the choices are. No parent would willingly leave their job, family and hometown if comparable services were available near their home.

“They are willing to make such sacrifices because they know that this critical period of their child’s development will not come again. If they miss out on the first five years, that opportunity is lost forever. So, for them, the sacrifice is worthwhile,” he said.

Mohd Amin Azuwar witih his family.

Mohd Amin also called for the authorities to review the age limit for children with special needs attending Taska OKU, pointing out that they do not develop at the same pace as typically developing children. (Only children with disabilities aged 0 to 4 years can be enrolled in Taska OKU.)

“A four-year-old child with Down syndrome may only be learning to walk or speak. But under the current legal provision, once the child turns four, they have to leave the childcare centre and enter mainstream preschool,” he said, stressing that the age limit should be raised to six.

“Those additional two years are the most critical period for school readiness. This is when we can focus on skills such as sitting in a group, following instructions, maintaining attention, communicating, toilet training, eating independently and putting on their own shoes. All these skills determine whether the child can eventually enter mainstream education or proceed to special education.”

STILL LIMITED

Echoing the call, founder of JKM-registered Taska Ikhlas (OKU) Melaka Datuk Norashikin Ismail said the government should consider establishing special childcare centres in every state due to the growing demand for such services.

“Sabah, Sarawak and several rural districts in the peninsula also require special attention as access to Taska OKU remains limited. This has forced some families to travel long distances or relocate to other areas to obtain suitable services for their children.

“Therefore, plans to establish new OKU childcare centres should be based on data and actual needs in each district, including the number of children with disabilities, demand levels, access to existing services and geographical factors. This approach would ensure the provision of services is fairer, more comprehensive and accessible to all families who need them,” she said.

Datuk Norashikin Ismail

She added that each special childcare centre also has a limited capacity to accommodate children.

She also proposed raising the age limit for children attending Taska OKU to six, to ensure that early intervention programmes have a meaningful impact on their development.

“At the age of five to six, many children with disabilities still require continuous guidance in communication, behaviour, social skills and self-management before they are truly ready to enter school.

“Therefore, continuity of care and intervention at this age is crucial to ensure that their development does not stall once they exceed the current age limit of four,” she said.

SUPPORT

As a special childcare centre operator, Norashikin said to improve the quality of services, centres like hers need assistance and support in the form of operational grants, training subsidies for staff and allocations to purchase therapy equipment and upgrade their facilities to make them more disabled-friendly.

She said one of the main challenges in operating a special childcare centre is the higher operating costs, in addition to the need for trained caregivers to meet the varying needs of children with disabilities.

“Children with disabilities have different levels of development and needs. Therefore, our caregivers, childcare workers and educators need continuous professional training to equip them with the skills to provide effective care and intervention based on each child’s individual needs.

“In addition, an appropriate caregiver-to-child ratio would ensure that each child receives sufficient attention,” she said.

The main challenges of operating a special needs childcare centre for children with disabilities include high operating costs, as well as the need for trained caregivers who are equipped to meet the specific needs of children with different disabilities.

On the best approach the government could take to raise parents’ awareness of special childcare services once their children are diagnosed as having special needs, Norashikin recommended strengthening the national referral system to make it more structured and systematic.

“Once a child is identified as having a disability, parents should be provided with comprehensive information on specialised childcare centres registered with JKM, early intervention centres, financial assistance, as well as support services provided by the government and relevant agencies.

“With clear information from the outset, parents can make faster and more informed decisions to ensure their children achieve optimal development,” she said, adding that institutions such as hospitals and health clinics could also play a role in this regard.

RAISE AGE LIMIT

Meanwhile, Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) Faculty of Human Development lecturer Dr Hasrul Hosshan said the age limit for placing children with disabilities in Taska OKU should be extended to six years, given that this period represents a critical phase of brain development.

He said early intervention could have a significant impact on children’s language, communication, behavioural, social and self-help skills, adding that extending the age limit would also ensure that children who still require support are not left behind before entering school.

“The benefits include improving school readiness, particularly in terms of their communication, social, learning and self-management skills.

“This would help children enter preschool or Year One with greater confidence and ability, while reducing their reliance on intensive intervention in the future,” he said.

Dr Hasrul Hosshan

Hasrul, who is also director of the Centre for Inclusive Research on Community and Disability at UPSI, said more Taska OKU should be established nationwide, as many parents are facing difficulties securing places for their special children.

He stressed that limited access meant many children would miss the opportunity to receive intervention at the appropriate stage, while delays in obtaining intervention could have long-term effects on their development.

“Having more Taska OKU will not only benefit the children but also their family economy. When children receive quality care and intervention, parents can return to work or remain in employment. This can increase household income and also contribute to the country’s economic productivity,” he said.

Hasrul said Malaysia could emulate countries such as Australia, Singapore and Japan, which place a strong emphasis on accessible early intervention for special-needs children, continuous professional training and robust government funding.

In Malaysia, the government’s allocation for the welfare of persons with disabilities increased to RM1.2 billion in 2024, RM1.3 billion in 2025 and RM1.4 billion in 2026.

Under Budget 2025, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim also announced the establishment of 11 new PERMATA centres nationwide to expand access to early intervention and special education for children with special needs, including those with autism, Down syndrome and developmental delays.

Meanwhile, due to the limited number of Taska OKU, JKM encourages parents to make use of the Community Rehabilitation Centres and mainstream childcare centres to prepare their special-needs children for entry into the mainstream education system.