A child receiving treatment services for primary medical needs or intellectual disability must have a daily schedule based on which principle?

• A. The normalization principle
• B. The school timetable only
• C. A parent's preference
• D. A flexible, unstructured approach

Answer: (A)

The daily schedule should be based on the normalization principle. This idea means structuring daily activities so they resemble the typical routines of children without disabilities, promoting inclusion and the sense that the child is participating in ordinary life. When treatment services for medical needs or intellectual disability follow this pattern, routines include regular times for meals, learning or school-like activities, play, rest, and community involvement, all arranged in a predictable, supportive way that fits the child’s abilities and medical requirements. The goal is to help the child develop skills, independence, and social integration by making daily life feel standard and manageable, rather than treating each day as separate or ad hoc.

Choosing a school timetable only would ignore the full range of necessary activities beyond schooling. Relying on a parent’s preference alone may not ensure consistency or address the child’s therapeutic needs. A flexible, unstructured approach lacks the steady framework that many children with medical needs or intellectual disabilities benefit from to learn routines and build competencies.