As parents or caregivers, you want to support your child the best way you know how. When faced with a disability diagnosis, it’s easy to become overwhelmed when faced with choosing the therapies, supports and services that your child may need.
At OnSide, we can support you and your child through the NDIS process right from the beginning. The coordination of supports and services available to your child are most effective when implemented early in your child’s journey, and you are encouraged to engage OnSide as a first point of call.
What does Early Intervention mean?
According to the NDIS eligibility requirements, early intervention in the earlier stages may allay the need for further, more extensive supports in the future.
The NDIS states” ‘Early childhood intervention is all about giving children with developmental delay or disability, and their families, supports to enable the child to have the best possible start in life”. In other words, when the relevant supports and therapies are implemented for your child, the sooner they can develop strategies to navigate their world and continue to thrive.
This heavily impacts not only the child but their family, educators and their community. A confident, informed support system further encourages the child to embrace these interventions and build their own confidence in their safe home environment.
How do we know preemptive Early Intervention is beneficial?
By engaging in preemptive, early interventions for your child via NDIS and OnSide, you are increasing your child’s access to tools and information that may reduce the need for supports in later childhood and in life.
These measures help to build instrumental skills to support your child to thrive. To date, therapies have been implemented after diagnosis of developmental delay or neurodivergence.
However, studies into the efficacy of preemptive interventions from age 9 months in infants showing ASD traits led to a reduction in both symptom severity and ASD diagnoses at 3 years (find the study here).
In a world-first discovery, research conducted by Telethon Kids Institute, La Trobe University and the Western Australian Child and Adolescent Health Services (WACHS) obtained exciting evidence on the benefits of providing preemptive interventions in infants showing developmental delays. These infancy-stage therapies led to a reduction in chance that child may develop Autism in later childhood; and not by a small percentage, but by ⅔!
This promising result has spurred further research into early interventions (read about the ‘Inkling’ study here), prompting the NDIS to announce reforms in their diagnostic and interventional procedures for children exhibiting developmental delays and potential neurodivergence.
How can OnSide support my child?
OnSide’s dedicated Support Coordinators are instrumental in facilitating the best, most effective early intervention supports for each child, and their circumstances. We will link you with the right services, at the right time.
The announced reform from the NDIS and the promising scientific evidence for early intervention gives Support Coordinators and healthcare practitioners every opportunity to get to know each child’s circumstances, and ensure they are set up to succeed.
As all parents know, time flies. If you are concerned about your child’s development milestones or current supports, get in touch with OnSide to give your child every opportunity to thrive. With our world-first discoveries into the inherent benefits of early interventions, you can rest assured that your child is in the safest of hands, with OnSide alongside you every step of the way.