Children and Young People with Disability
Australia CEO Stephanie Gotlib said
supports and services were integral for
some children with disability.
“These services and supports should be
provided in any environment, service or
other part of community life that a child
undertakes,” she said.
“These may be related to physical
accessibility of a premises or activity,
support to participate, specialised
equipment, modification of an activity or
a range of other areas.”
Children and infants with a disability and/
or developmental delay and their families
can gain access to support and services
to assist in development, wellbeing and
participation in family and community
life.
Early Childhood Australia CEO Samantha
Page said improved outcomes for children
with a disability and/or developmental
delay relied heavily on collaboration.
“There are improved outcomes when
families, early education and care
services and other health professionals
collaborate closely to support learning
and development, integrating strategies
into the child’s home and early learning
environments holistically,” she said.
“Other important initiatives are child
and parent centres that allow families to
access a number of services in one place,
reducing the need for parents to travel to
multiple locations.
“Programs and support delivered in the
child's early learning setting are likely to
be reinforced more consistently across
the child's week and between home and
family, greatly enhancing the outcomes
that can be achieved through a single
weekly clinic session.”
Ms Page said early intervention was
critical in the early stages of a child's
life, when skills, a sense of self and
competencies developed.
“Families can work closely with early
learning services - whether it's a long-
term daycare, kindergarten or family
daycare setting - to develop a program
unique to their child and that takes
account of learning within the wider early
childhood environments,” she said.
“when the program is matched to the
needs of each child, we provide the ideal
environment to support best outcomes.”
Parents and families can share ideas and
have discussions on internet forums and
Facebook groups to assist in encouraging
inclusion within an early learning setting.
These sites often feature input from
allied heath professionals.
GRETA ANDREWS-TAYLOR