The KidStart Program

A Comprehensive Early Intervention Program

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Welcome to Kids Are Kids!

At Kids Are Kids! we welcome you as part of our family. Our approach to children and families is simple, we welcome every child with open arms to help reach their developmental potential and participate in everyday community life. We work together with you to identify challenges and goals, set strategies and celebrate milestones! Your family is at the forefront of our minds and through our experienced, passionate and dedicated team of therapists we aim to make a positive difference in your child and family’s life.

“We embrace every child with open arms and with the objective of helping them reach their developmental potential.”

Family Centred PracticeKids Are Kids! was founded in 1997 on a model of Family Centred Practice and this model has always underpinned our holistic, inclusive service. The underlying principles of our Family Centred Practice firmly reflect self-direction for families and are:• Parents are the main people who are

and will be involved in their child’s life — you know your child best and want the best for your child

• Each family is unique and has different needs

• Children learn and develop best in a supportive family and community environment.

In the KidStart Program, staff and parents/carers work as equal partners in supporting your child’s learning and development. Our aim is to provide you with the knowledge, skills and support to meet the needs of your child and to maximise their development and ability to participate in family and community life.

About the KidStart Early Intervention ProgramKids Are Kids! provide comprehensive early intervention therapy services for Disability Services Commission (DSC) and National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) funded children and their families. We offer a trans-disciplinary and hands on therapy service and support program to help children develop important skills during your child’s early and formative years. Through the KidStart Program your child will be eligible to receive Speech Pathology, Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy services and the support of a Clinical Psychologist.

Our dedication Your family is at the forefront of our minds and through our experienced, passionate and dedicated team of therapists.

The KidStart Program is funded by thegovernment and there is no out of pocket cost to families for KidStart services. Where a family wants additional services, you can top up therapy from our Fee For Service or Department of Social Services Programs.We will always discuss this with you.

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The KidStart Program is for children between 0-8 years of age with any disability type who are eligible to receive specialist disability services. To access specialist disability services, a person must meet the Commission’s eligibility criteria and the provider’s service access criteria.

You can choose where your child will receive their therapy and our services are �exible to meet your family’s routines. Services can be provided at our Bateman or Rockingham Centre, in your home, or at your child’s school or childcare facility.

If your child is experiencing a challenge anywhere in the community (such as when you go shopping or to the local park) we can be alongside you, see the situation �rst-hand and recommend strategies to assist you for next time.

Kids Are Kids! is registered to provide supports for National Disability InsuranceScheme participants.

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Your KidStart TeamYour KidStart team includes a Program Co-ordinator, Speech Pathologist, Occupational Therapist, Physiotherapist and Clinical Psychologist. All of our team hold tertiary quali�cations, are skilled and experienced in disability and are passionate about helping children and caring for families. We understand your child’s team may include medical and other health professionals and we work with them to provide co-ordinated services to you.

Your KidStart team may involve health professionals outside of our organisation on an ‘as needs basis’ that may include social work and dietician services for families. Alternatively we may refer you to other health professionals beyond our team when we believe this will help your child. We understand our families’ needs for con�dentiality and your child’s services are kept con�dential within your therapy team in line with our privacy policy.

Your Key WorkerEvery family is given a Key Worker and team based on your child’s individual needs. The Key Worker is your main contact person who works collaboratively with you to develop goals and strategies around all areas of your child’s development. Your Key Worker has access to the whole KidStart team and brings other therapists in as your child

needs. Your Key Worker then continues to support you with the strategies and advice that are developed. Research has shown that working in this way is very e�ective as you can develop a strong working relationship with one person, and have access to a wide variety of professional knowledge at any time.

A Step by Step Guide to KidStartOur KidStart service will typically follow this pathway:

1. Your child has received a diagnosis and is registered with DSC (Disability Services Commission).

2. You meet with your LAC or My Way Coordinator and are given a list of Service Providers.

3. You research your child’s therapy options and meet with Kids Are Kids! to �nd out more about our KidStart Program.

4. You decide on Kids Are Kids! as your child’s therapy provider, give us your application form and go on to our waitlist.

Your KidStart TeamEvery family is assigned a Key Worker and team based on your child’s individual needs. Other professional services may be contracted in on an “as needs basis” and may include social work and dietician services for families.

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5. We offer you a place in the KidStart Program and meet with you to; explain more about the KidStart Program, talk about your initial priorities and needs and plan for future services. Our Clinical Psychologist also meets with you after this appointment to provide information on the services and supports they can provide.

6. Your Key Worker arranges home, school and childcare visits as needed to get to know your family and assess your child. Observing a child in their natural environment gives a more accurate picture of their skills, independence and participation. A Routines Based Interview

(RBI) will be completed with your Key Worker to identify your child’s strengths, interests and the activities that you would like support in.

7. You and your Key Worker complete an Eco Map to create a visual portrayal of your family. An Eco Map is a useful way to represent family relationships and potential and existing supports and resources. These may include informal supports (such as family members and friends), formal supports (such as medical and therapy services and child care) and intermediate supports (e.g. work colleagues or mothers’ groups).

8. Standardised Assessments may be completed to help identify key challenges and strengths in your child.

9. Based on the assessment process you then set therapy and support goals for your child and family. Your child’s goals are written up in a Family Services and Support Plan (FSSP). Your FSSP is a dynamic plan and as goals are achieved or your child’s needs change, your plan is adjusted. Your Key Worker will work on these goals at each visit, and your FSSP will be reviewed formally on a six monthly basis, or earlier when required.

10. You and your Key Worker decide on the location and frequency of therapy and support, based on your FSSP.Therapy can be provided at our Centre, in your home, or at your child’s school or childcare centre.

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11. Your child starts to receive regular, ongoing therapy and support. This includes hands on therapy, parent upskilling, reviewing your child’s progress, working with your child’s other health professionals, and working with your child’s teacher.

“Receive the therapy, support and guidance for yourselves and your child that you need.”

Natural Environments and Learning OpportunitiesAt Kids Are Kids! we recognise that your child learns outside of the sessions with your Key Worker. This is why we work together with you to develop learning opportunities that can �t into your every day routines. We can work with you at home and emphasise how you can use naturally occurring learning opportunities to teach your child new functional skills. Working in this way means that your child has countless hours to learn and develop in between visits. Research shows that your child will learn from you and from their siblings. During school visits, we support teachers and education assistants in the same way to optimise your child’s development at school.

Your KidStart ServicesTogether with your Key Worker you develop strategies to meet the speci�c goals for your child and family.

Your Key Worker will help you identify what information and support you need to achieve these goals and the intervention provided will meet your child and family’s individual needs.

The services provided in the KidStart Program are �exible and dependent on your priorities. Some of the ways we work together with you are:

• Regular individual and group therapy for your child to develop and improve skills and encourage engagement, independence and participation in daily routines and skills that children need to use

• Practical support for behaviour management, communication, self-care (e.g. feeding and toileting) and self-regulation

• Parent workshops for speci�c skill development e.g. key word signing, infant massage, communication development and strategies to encourage this

• Collaboration with other stakeholders including other therapists, doctors, LACs,

Outside of the sessionsOne of our aims is to up-skill you on therapy tactics so that you can assist your child with ongoing learning while we’re not there.

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teachers and childcare workers to co-ordinate services and skill development across environments

• Liaison and consultation with schools and teaching staff to build capacity and individualise environmental and learning aspects for your child

• Equipment funding application and prescription, with follow up support and training for those people supporting the use of the equipment

• Individual Family Service and Support Plans to guide goals in the home, school and community

towards achieving engagement in skill development, independence and participation for each child. Regular opportunities for families to feedback and reflect on these plans

• Standardised assessments across communication, language, gross and fine motor activities as well as functional activities of daily living (such as toileting, dressing and the meal time routines)

• Advocacy of your child’s rights and needs in the community

• Access to Kids Are Kids! Lending Library, Activ Library and Noah’s Ark Toy Library

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• Provision of a wide range of information as you family needs it — including but not limited to books, research, handouts, newsletters

• Home assessment, recommendations and the co-ordination of supports and equipment needs

• Clinical Psychology services for grief and loss, anxiety, depression, behaviour management, coping skills and relationship issues

• Referral to and linking families with support groups and other services

• Preparation of resources, workbooks and alternative communication systems

• Support from other families at our Bateman centre

• Involvement in social and fun activities including our Annual Family Christmas Picnic.

Equipment and Funding A wide range of equipment is available to assist children in activities such as sitting, standing, walking, self care and communication. If your child requires equipment to participate in daily activities, our KidStart team can help.

The Community Aids and Equipment Program (CAEP) is a government funding program for equipment that is basic and essential and supports your child’s participation in the home environment.

Your KidStart team can prescribe equipment for your child and apply for CAEP funding.

If the equipment required is not funded by CAEP, therapists and your Local Area Co-ordinator can advice you of other possible sources of funding. We can also assist you plan your Better Start or Helping Children With Autism funding and applications.

ReferralsReferrals to the KidStart Program are accepted directly from Parents/Carers, and health professionals including Paediatricians, GPs, Child Health Nurses, Local Area Coordinators and Teachers. You will need to be registered with DSC to be eligible for the program.

We provide full supportDuring school visits, we will support the teachers and education assistants in the same way to optimise your child’s development at school.

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Useful ResourcesWe’re also here to help with other resources that might be useful to your child and your family. These can include respite, equipment, child-minding, education options, leisure activities, toys and education workshops. You might find some of the following organisations helpful and if they’re not what you are looking for, please come back to us for guidance.

General Information Supports and ServicesDisability Services Commission (DSC)www.disability.wa.gov.auThe WA Disability Service Commission provides a wide range of information about support, respite and advocacy services individuals, families and carers.

Carers WA www.carerswa.asn.auCarers WA work in active partnership with carers, persons with care and support needs, health professionals, service providers, government and the wider community to achieve an improved quality of life for carers.

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Independent Living Centre of WA (ILC)www.ilc.com.au The ILC provides information and advice, assessment, funding and hire services that enable Western Australians of all ages and abilities to live more independent and fulfilling lives. Service areas include respite and care link, multicultural aged care, assistive technology and equipment, occupational therapy driver assessment, Home and Community Care regional assessment, and grants and equipment funding.

Kalparrinwww.kalparrin.org.au Kalparrin helps families of children with disabilities and special needs to carry their load by providing practical information and support, and connecting them with the services that they need and other families in similar situations.

My Time Support Groupswww.mytime.net.au MyTime groups provide facilitated peer support for mums, dads, grandparents and anyone caring for children with a disability, developmental delay or chronic medical condition.

WA Special Familieswww.waspecialfamilies.comWA Special Families is an online Facebook community for families and carers of children with special needs.

It is a place for families to communicate, share ideas and chat about life in a special needs family.

Childcare and Schooling Communicare www.communicare.org.au Communicare’s Inclusion and Professional Support Program (IPSP) allows every child the right to safe, supportive and quality schooling, child-care or in-home care.

Toys and LibraryNoah’s Ark Toy Library and Supported Playgroupswww.natl.org.au Noah’s Ark provides essential support services to agencies and parents working with children and young adults with disability, including specialised toys, resources and educational development programmes.

The toy library has hundreds of toys for children with special needs, books, specialist resources and equipment and a mobile and postal services for regional, rural and remote areas.

Equipment DreamFit Foundationwww.dreamfit.com.au DreamFit Foundation is a not for profit organisation that is making dreams possible for people with disabilities through innovative equipment solutions.

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Their skilled and passionate team of engineers and therapists are committed to supporting people with disabilities to get out and try new activities, engage in their community and overcome challenges in their everyday life.

Recreation and LeisureKids Campswww.kidscamps.org.auKids Camps provides fun-filled camps for children and young people aged 5 to 25 with disability.

Riding for the Disabled www.rdawa.org.auRiding for the Disabled Association of Western Australia (RDAWA) is a voluntary, not for profit organisation that provides opportunities for people with disabilities or special needs to develop their abilities and enrich their lives.

My Leisure Holidayswww.myleisureholidays.com.auMy Leisure Holidays provides group or individual holidays for people with physical and/or intellectual disabilities and their families.

Occupational Therapy • Speech Pathology • Physiotherapy Psychology • Behaviour Management

a: 26 Parry Avenue Bateman WA 6150p. PO Box 1096 Booragoon WA 6954

t: (08) 9313 6566f: (08) 9313 5566

e: info@kidsarekids.org.auw: kidsarekids.org.au

TOGETHERREACHING POTENTIAL