Our services include
- Developmental Evaluations
– to determine if the child is meeting developmental milestones.
- Comprehensive Evaluations
– Comprehensive evaluations in the areas of cognition, language, gross and fine motor skills, self-help skills and social-emotional development.
-Sensory and Behavioural issues - Paediatric Therapies
– multi-sensory stimulation, developmental therapy, play therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, physiotherapy and pre-academic skill training.
- Family Support
– parents and family members are supported through a variety of opportunities for education and support throughout the year.
Early intervention services meet the developmental needs of infants and toddlers in any one or more of the following areas:
- Physical development/ movement (reaching, rolling, crawling, and walking);
- Cognitive development/ learning (thinking, learning, solving problems);
- Speech and language development/ communication (talking, listening, understanding);
- Social/emotional/behaviour (playing, feeling secure and happy); or,
- Adaptive development /Self-help (eating, dressing).
- Sensory processing skills (handling textures, tastes, sounds, smells)
Infant Stimulation Program is designed to meet the needs of infants and toddlers who have a developmental delay or disability. Sometimes it is known, from the moment a child is born, that early intervention services will be essential in helping the child grow and develop. Often this is so for children who are diagnosed at birth with a specific condition or who experience significant prematurity, very low birth weight, illness, or surgery soon after being born. Early intervention services provide vital support so that children with developmental needs can thrive and grow.
At risk infants
At-risk infant or toddler means an individual less than three years of age who would be at risk of experiencing a substantial developmental delay if early intervention services were not provided to the individual. At-risk infant or toddler may include an infant or toddler who is at risk of experiencing developmental delays because of biological or environmental factors that can be identified (including low birth weight, respiratory distress as a newborn, lack of oxygen, brain haemorrhage, infection, nutritional deprivation, a history of abuse or neglect, and being directly affected by illegal substance abuse or withdrawal symptoms resulting from prenatal drug exposure).
The concept behind Early Intervention is to assure that families, who have at-risk children in this age range, receive resources and supports that assist them in maximising their child’s physical, cognitive, and social/emotional development while respecting the diversity of families and communities.
Aims of the program
- Early detection and early intervention
- System to check young children for signs of disability
- Working with young children who are slow in development or have impairments
- Educating and teaching families
- Prevent disabilities in babies and young children
- Improve developmental, social, and educational gains;
- Reduce the future costs of special education, rehabilitation and health care needs;
- Reduce feelings of isolation, stress and frustration that families may experience;
- Help alleviate and reduce behaviour issues by using positive behaviour strategies and interventions;
- Help children with disabilities grow up to become productive, independent individuals.
Eligibility
- Children (from birth to 2 years) with onset of disability (from birth) or
- Children who have the risk of developing disability
- Children who have developmental delay (delayed developmental milestones in the following areas)
Ø Cognitive development
Ø Physical development, including vision and hearing
Ø Communication development
Ø Social or emotional development
Ø Adaptive development