Early Intervention

Receiving a diagnosis can be an emotionally difficult time

We’re here to support you and your family through the next steps.

Research shows that children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) or General Developmental Delay (GDD) are most responsive to intervention when they are in their early years.

Our early intervention services see your child as a child first, as part of a whole family, and not just a child with a disability.

The following advice is offered by the nationally acclaimed Australian Parenting organisation, raisingchildren.net.au

All therapies and services for children with disability should be:

• family focused
• well structured and
• evidence-based.

Characteristics to look for when you’re choosing an early intervention are listed below. The more of these characteristics you find in a service, the better – but not all interventions will do all these things.

Family centred

This means that the intervention:

• includes you and other family members so you can work alongside the professionals and learn how to help your child
• is flexible – it can be offered in your home as well as in other settings such as kindergartens and early intervention centres
• provides your family with support and guidance.

Developmentally appropriate

This means that the intervention:

• is specially designed for children with disability
• has staff who are specially trained in the intervention and services they provide
• develops an individual plan for your child and reviews the plan regularly
• tracks your child’s progress with regular assessments.

Child focused

This means the intervention:

• focuses on developing specific skills
• includes strategies to help your child learn new skills and use them in different settings
• prepares and supports your child for the move to school
• finds ways of getting your child with disability together with typically developing children (ideally of the same age).

Supportive and structured

This means the intervention:

• provides a supportive learning environment – your child feels comfortable and supported   
• is highly structured, well organised, regular and predictable.