Family Resources
Your kids require you most of all to love them for who they are, not to spend your whole time trying to correct them.” —Bill Ayers
The Start Of Your Child's Therapy Journey
We want to help parents unravel the complexities they face when embarking on this new journey with their child.
We have worked with many children and families, each with unique profiles that may complement or challenge one another. We support families at the start of their journey in understanding their own profiles, helping them gain confidence in making decisions that align with their needs and preferences—ultimately benefiting their child.
Visual Supports
A Communication Tool
Visual supports are communication tools that present information using symbols, photographs, written words, or objects. Visual supports are particularly helpful for children who may have challenges in their comprehension (understanding what is being said) or organisational challenges (organising their thoughts or body to execute a task).
Your child may benefit from visual supports if they struggle with;
- Organising themselves to execute tasks
- Following instructions and sequences
- Understanding others and what is happening around them
- Lack of routine
- With regulation in unfamiliar situations
Sensory Processing
A Part Of Every Day Life
Sensory processing refers to the way we sort, interpret and respond to sensations from our body, our environment and the world around us. The sensations or sensory information we experience come through the senses of:
- Touch
- Taste
- Sight
- Sound
- Smell
- Proprioception (awareness of our body in space)
- Vestibular (sense of balance and movement)
- Interoception (sensing internal signals from our body).
The way children process sensory information affects their behaviours, communication, and engagement with those around them.
Sensory Symptoms Checklists
Parent Wellbeing
Looking After Yourself
Parenting can be overwhelming, especially when juggling new information, appointments, and shifting perspectives. Parents often prioritize their child’s needs while neglecting their own, which can be even more challenging when caring for a child with additional needs.
A helpful analogy is the oxygen mask on a plane—you must put on your own mask first before assisting your child. Prioritizing your well-being allows you to better support your child’s growth and development.
Resources for families:
- https://www.carergateway.gov.au/about
- https://www.mykidstime.com/for-parents/mental-health-special-needs-parent/
Parent Peer Support Group – Parenting can feel isolating, especially when your child requires extra support.
Links to different carer supports:
Client Service Agreement
Agreement
Watch as Dana takes you on a tour through our Client Service Agreement. All clients are required to sign an agreement before they start working with us, and whenever they have a new development plan.
You can download the Client Service Agreement explainer as a pdf.
Useful Links
Understanding A Development Relationship Approach
Understanding Language Development
Understanding Sensory Processing
Understanding Attachment, Infant Mental Health and Trauma
Understanding Development
Site References
Parent And Family Training And Learning
Please note that some of the courses and resources listed below are free of charge, and others may require purchase. Some of these may be claimable through your child’s NDIS funding. However, you should check eligibility with your Plan Manager and/or Local Area Coordinator to verify payment options before purchasing. We do not endorse any courses other than those we have created; we simply provide the links as a service to families.
My Therapy House Online Courses
Autism-specific Parental Stress Relief Program
Beyond Behaviors: Effective Neuroscience-based Tools to Transform Behaviors
A Paradigm Shift in Understanding Children’s Behavior: Conversations with Drs. Delahooke and Porges
