Developmental Educators are one of the newest allied health professions in the disability field but are one of the most diverse. They often work with other professionals to provide a comprehensive level of support for individuals. Developmental educators have the skills and training to work with individuals with a disability or different ability and their support network to help them live as independently as possible and active members of their community.

This may be done by:

• Information gathering and individual observation

• Skill development and training for the individual's support network

• Intensive 1:1 therapy delivery

Sessions may take place in a variety of locations, such as at our office, online (Zoom telehealth), your education settings, your home, or in local community settings.

Occupational Therapists focus on promoting health and wellbeing through enabling our clients to participate in everyday aspects of their lives. Our OT’s use various techniques to enable you to develop, keep or maintain independence through therapeutic use of self, with support, skills or equipment. Key areas of support can include:

• Personal Care such as showering, dressing, grooming, eating;

• Independent Living Skills such as cooking, household management, cleaning, money;

• Fine and gross motor skills;

• Social skills and participation.

Our therapy assistants work alongside our qualified therapists to implement therapeutic supports for individuals. Therapy assistants enable our Developmental Educators and Occupational Therapists to offer collaborative support to our clients in a cost and time effective manner.

Collaborative planning is conducted prior to client sessions with therapy assistants to ensure all supports follow the treating therapist’s guidelines and the client’s goals.

Communication and interactions with others can be confusing and daunting for some people. Strategies and skills can include appropriate use of language and non-verbal cues, understanding the ‘rules’ of conversations like turn taking and active listening, as well as conflict resolution, and play skills. 

Before beginning a therapy program or strategy, our therapists will complete the relevant assessments with the individual and their support network. These results will provide the developmental educator with a clearer picture of the individual’s strengths and where further work and development is needed, and will allow us to begin developing plans and strategies that best meet the individual’s unique needs.

If you have a NDIS plan, as part of the reporting requirements at each plan review, individual assessments need to be conducted before starting a new therapy and either when you finish the therapy or at the end of each plan. These assessments provide us with ‘pre and post-baseline data’, or in simple terms, it provides a snapshot of before and after therapy. This helps us when reporting on what progress was made and to develop recommendations for your future plan.

We can complete Functional Capacity Assessments (FCAs)!

An FCA is an evaluation of how a person's disability, injury or health condition impacts their daily life, including but not limited to:

• Personal Care

• Mobility

• Communication

• Social Participation

• Cognitive Function

An FCA allows the NDIS to determine the type and level of supports required for a participant to achieve their goals and independence in daily living.

Please Note: We do not complete Assistive Tech or Home Modification Assessments.