1. 12th Biennial National Conference Choices that matter: ECI in a new era …
Aspiring for Inclusion: A program for supporting the inclusion of children with all abilities into mainstream services
7-9 September, Melbourne, Australia

2. Background
Program was developed in response to the lack of available services with capacity to include children with additional needs in the community at the time.
Project funded by ADHC
ECIA 12th Biennial National Conference, Choices that matter: ECI in a new era …

3. Philosophy Based on two key ambitions:
All children should have equal access to the leisure activities of their choice!
Empowerment of the local service providers leads to change!
Having a “We will certainly give it a go” approach…
ECIA 12th Biennial National Conference, Choices that matter: ECI in a new era …

4. Program structure Participation arm Service arm Referral received
Family meeting
Service meeting
Joint meeting
Service commences with supports
Supports reduced
Independent attendance
Service arm
Referral received
Needs identified
Staff member allocated
Inservice provided
ECIA 12th Biennial National Conference, Choices that matter: ECI in a new era …

5. Participation arm: Supports offered to families and services
Physical supports (respite workers)
Training sessions (specific to a particular topic)
Small equipment provision
Funding education and support
Family support and advocacy
Service advocacy
ECIA 12th Biennial National Conference, Choices that matter: ECI in a new era …

6. Participation arm: Inclusion criteria
A child with additional needs (does not need to be formally diagnosed).
Willing family and service provider.
Families and service provider are in a position to become self sufficient at the conclusion of the program.
A goal pertaining to participation in an appropriate leisure activity (could include but certainly not limited to sports, care arrangements, music, circus….)
ECIA 12th Biennial National Conference, Choices that matter: ECI in a new era …

7. Participation arm: Example of involvement- Miss L
Miss L wanted to commence dance lessons at a local dance school. Support was offered to the dance school regarding disability and how best to cater for Miss L’s needs. Miss L now participates independently Six staff upskilled.
Image courtesy of Helen Newman (Nomad Films)
ECIA 12th Biennial National Conference, Choices that matter: ECI in a new era …

8. Participation arm: Example of involvement- Miss H
Miss H’s family wanted to enrol her in long day care but were not sure where to start. A local daycare was selected and a respite worker employed to assist until childcare funding obtained Day care staff attended training on sensory needs, feeding and communication. Miss H now attends weekly with the support of an additional staff member for half of the day. The daycare staff report using strategies employed with Miss H for other children at the centre.
ECIA 12th Biennial National Conference, Choices that matter: ECI in a new era …

9. Participation arm: Example of involvement- Miss B
Miss B lived with her family on a rural property and attended the local school. However, she was not able to access the local school bus due to the height of the step to access the bus. Supports were provided to the family in order to work with the local bus company and advocate for the needs of their daughter in having an accessible bus stop.
ECIA 12th Biennial National Conference, Choices that matter: ECI in a new era …

10. Participation arm: Outcomes- Families
A confidence scale was used by therapists to measure the confidence of families and service providers at the commencement, middle and conclusion of the program.
18 children (and their families) commenced the program
Data was available for 16 children at the middle of the program
Data was available for 12 children at the conclusion of the program
ECIA 12th Biennial National Conference, Choices that matter: ECI in a new era …

11. Participation arm: Outcomes- Family data
Average commence confidence score: 2.6/10
Average middle confidence score: 5.19/10
Average commencement score: 7.3/10
ECIA 12th Biennial National Conference, Choices that matter: ECI in a new era …

12. Participation arm: Lessons learnt…
Support and education for other families is just as important as the support for the child’s family.
Sometimes good intentions still cannot “make the impossible possible…” and broken promises are worse than no promise at all..
The simplest of things can make the big difference
Lateral thinking goes a long way!
ECIA 12th Biennial National Conference, Choices that matter: ECI in a new era …

13. Service arm: education sessions
11 education sessions were provided to a range of service providers on topics including:
Visual communication
Key word signing
Positive behaviour support
Play skills
Sensory processing
Specific disability education sessions
ECIA 12th Biennial National Conference, Choices that matter: ECI in a new era …

14. Service arm: other supports provided
Visuals (and visual boards)
Social stories
Support with grant writing
Positive goal setting
ECIA 12th Biennial National Conference, Choices that matter: ECI in a new era …

15. Service arm: confidence scores
Pre education session average confidence rating: 6.6/10
Post education session average confidence rating: 8.26/10
ECIA 12th Biennial National Conference, Choices that matter: ECI in a new era …

16. Aspiring for inclusion- where to from here
Upskilling the community has allowed for a more inclusive community!
The program has highlighted the need for supports to family and services services within the community
Plans for a ‘taster program’ prior to the NDIS roll out in the local area.
At Aspire, the Aspiring for Inclusion program has been rolled into the Transdisciplinary Keyworker’s role as a pivotal part of family support.
As for after the NDIS roll out?????????.....
ECIA 12th Biennial National Conference, Choices that matter: ECI in a new era …