1. Lauren Clark – Speech Pathologist,Child and Youth Services
12th Biennial National Conference Choices that matter: ECI in a new era …
A Tale of 3 Families:
Transdisciplinary work with diverse families under the National Disability Insurance Scheme
Lauren Clark – Speech Pathologist,Child and Youth Services
Charmayne Lange – Lead Coordinator Early Intervention Services, Child and Youth Services
7-9 September, Melbourne, Australia

2. Background: Child & Youth Services
‘Team around the child model’
Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Psychology, Social Work, Speech Pathology & Developmental Education
Community–based Service (home, kindergarten, school visits)
Working within the NDIS since July 2013
ECIA 12th Biennial National Conference, Choices that matter: ECI in a new era …

3. “The only source of knowledge is experience.”
A tale to tell…
Presentation will:
Reflect on stories of families known to our team
Draw on experiences to identify what has worked well
Share observations from changes under NDIS model
“The only source of knowledge is experience.”
Albert Einstein
ECIA 12th Biennial National Conference, Choices that matter: ECI in a new era …

4. Tom Lives with his mum & has moved house regularly
Dad currently in prison
Grade 1 at school in a special small class
Barriers to getting to school regularly
Diagnosis of ASD in Kindergarten
Limited access to therapy in the past due to family circumstances making it difficult to maintain appointments
Supportive school staff.
ECIA 12th Biennial National Conference, Choices that matter: ECI in a new era …

5. Jack Lives with parents who both have their own learning difficulties
His mum has some contact with a service provider for adults with disabilities
Has 5 older siblings – two of whom have received therapy services in the past
Attends Special School regularly with transport arranged by Education Department
Very limited supports from wider family or community
ECIA 12th Biennial National Conference, Choices that matter: ECI in a new era …

6. Ibrohim Family came to Australia as refugees
Born in Australia – medical issues from birth and frequent hospital appointments & stays
English as a second language for mother – translator frequently required
3 years old and lives with mother and older brother
Cultural pressures and family expectations
Financial pressures – mother attempting to maintain part-time work
ECIA 12th Biennial National Conference, Choices that matter: ECI in a new era …

7. Lessons learnt… Key Worker model Flexible service provision
Reducing number of people involved
Developing trust in relationship
Flexible service provision
Fitting in with the family life vs regular appointments
Being able to be present at the key times
Importance of working in natural environments
Insight into the child’s experiences in different environments
Establishing contact by being present in their current environments
ECIA 12th Biennial National Conference, Choices that matter: ECI in a new era …

8. Lessons learnt… Taking time to develop relationships
Giving value to conversations that foster trusting relationships
Developing relationships beyond the immediate family
Focussing on one thing at a time
Going with the family priorities
Matching capacity with goals
Taking time to develop relationships
Jack: building relationships with Jack’s mum meant having an interest in and long conversations about the many animals that they cared for and loved. Not rushing in with ideas, suggestions and advice until there was a relationship of trust. Families have often had large number of therapists involved. History of child protection services being involved so families are often more wary of any services coming in. extra importance of building trust so they can openly share concerns and receive support.
Ibrohim: really helpful to be able to respond to invitation to visit at a time when the extended family was presetn to get to know them and understand the role they have in ibrohim and his mothers life. this gave lots of insight into the cultrual understanding of ibrohims disability and the attitudes connected to that and how this impacts on his mum’s emotional well being and n term her parenting.
At Jack’s school, we have had the advantage of the majority of the special small class receibving services from our team. Whole class approach, minimising number of therapists and work alongside, bringing insight. Took time to build relationship with staff to understand their priorities, spent time working with teachers on their priorities, before introducing additional ideas or suggestions.
Taking time to develop the relationship has now meant it is a great team around the child, teachers and therapists, with a huge advantage of having therapists able to work between the home and school environment, allowing fruther insight for teachers into the home life of these children.
In Ibrohims NDIA plan, there were 6 goals addressing the development of various skills. We use the RBI as a way to determine priorities for the family and this tool helped us work out what was the greatest priority. For this family, the priority was for them to be able to take ibrohim out, go to social events in their cultural community. As a SP, working with this child who was non verbal, I could see that the introduction of a communication system was important. Introduced a system, included others in supporting this, it failed. Always acknowledging the difficulty there may be with this, but as relationship developed, became more aware of family situation, mother’s capacity and that focusing on one thing at a time would be more beneficial and this this really needed to be that the mother wanted to focus on at the time.
Remembering Jack, both parents having earning difficulties of their own,… Focusing on one thing was really helpful with Jack’s mum when she was ready to start toilet training with Jack she did a great job of following really simple and concrete instructions. This took up a lof of her focus and energy for quite some time and it would not have worked well to have a number of therapists in addressing communication skills or gross motor skills during this period of time.
ECIA 12th Biennial National Conference, Choices that matter: ECI in a new era …

9. Observations of Changing Times
Thinking in team challenged by…
Subtle consumer shift encouraging more ‘clinical’ approach
Numbers, numbers, numbers!
‘More is better’ mentality from the market
How to continue to service “hard to engage” families
Continuing to focus on relationships and best practice
“If you don’t like something change it.
If you can’t change it, change your attitude.”
Maya Angelou
ECIA 12th Biennial National Conference, Choices that matter: ECI in a new era …

10. Thank you… The families who we learn alongside of
Team members for resilience & creativity in changing times
You! – listening and thinking together
“When the winds of change blow, some people build walls and other build windmills.”
- Chinese Proverb
ECIA 12th Biennial National Conference, Choices that matter: ECI in a new era …