WHEN children are born with disabilities, there is often a presumption that they will be unable to function normally in society.
However, this assumption is far from accurate, as many individuals throughout history have been diagnosed with neurodiverse conditions and defied expectations, going on to achieve success.
In Trinidad, one medical doctor and martial artist has provided a way for neurodiverse children to experience life normally through martial arts.
Dr Edson Breedy, a psychiatrist, started Edson Breedy Athletics in 2016 as a way to hone his taekwondo and martial arts skills.
"There were very few adult martial artists to help me train when I was competitive, so I started an adult-only class," Breedy told Newsday during an interview at Edson Breedy Athletics, Abercromby Street, St Joseph, on March 27.
Breedy said that after the adult class began, there were demands for a children's class to be introduced.
"I eventually started the kids class, and after that a lot of parents who had special-needs children, either with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or autism, started pressing for classes because they had read or heard how martial arts helped children be able to focus or adapt better."
According to the Cleveland Clinic, a neurodivergent is someone whose brain develops or works differently for some reason.
It means the person has different strengths and struggles from people whose brains develop or work more typically.
Some examples of conditions that fall into the neurodivergent spectrum include autism, ADHD, dyslexia, dyscalculia, dyspraxia, Tourette syndrome, Down syndrome, Angelman syndrome, obsessive–compulsive disorder and Asperger syndrome.
[caption id="attachment_1146914" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Coach McKenny Joseph goes through some kicking exercises with children at Edson Breedy Athletics gym, Abercromby Street, St Joseph.[/caption]
Breedy said due to autism and other neurodiverse conditions having a range of symptoms, there is no one specific way that martial arts helps.
"In general, neurodevelopmental conditions affect people's social-communicative skills. They also engage in repetitive behaviour.
"Martial arts helps with the social-communicative skills because it gets them to interact with other children and in a place where they follow a routine. They also get to feel seen in a society where children with autism sometimes feel or are made to feel lesser than and less intelligent."
He said through his martial arts classes, the children are allowed to perform and even elevate their ranks in their specific disciplines.
"That helps them to build their confidence. Neurodiverse people oftentimes have decreased coordination and motor skills. This helps them to build their physical strength and increase their co-ordination and allows them to perform regular tasks."
Asked how he and his coaches have adapted martial arts to cater to the needs of the special-needs children.
"First you have to make sure the environment is relatively quiet and there
