ASZ Caring Hearts Inc.’s Post

🌟 Early Connections: A Beacon of Support for Families 🌟 Navigating the early years of your child’s life can feel overwhelming, especially when faced with developmental delays or disabilities. That's where Early Connections steps in – a program dedicated to supporting children under 9 and their families. Funded by the NDIS, Early Connections ensures that every child receives the tailored support they need, right from the start. Whether you're seeking guidance, support without a diagnosis, or connection to community services, Early Connections is here to illuminate the path forward. Remember, the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Let Early Connections be that step for your family. #EarlyConnections #ChildDevelopment #FamilySupport

THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THEM! Asking "What is wrong with your child?" to a parent of a special needs child can be insensitive and hurtful. It implies that there is something inherently wrong with the child, which can contribute to stigmatization and negative stereotypes surrounding special needs individuals. It may come across as lacking empathy and understanding for the challenges that the child and their family face. Instead of asking what's "wrong," it's more considerate to inquire about the child's interests, strengths, and how you can support them. This shows a more compassionate and inclusive approach. Being sensitive and respectful when interacting with special needs children and their families is essential to foster a more inclusive and supportive community. #specialneeds #childprotection #childhealthcare #childdevelopment #inclusivitymatters #supportivecommunity

🌍 "The Critical Importance of Estate Planning for Children with Developmental Disabilities" With the rising number of children diagnosed with developmental disabilities, including autism and intellectual disabilities, the need for specialized future planning becomes more pressing. Recent CDC data shows that nearly 1 in 11 children are diagnosed with such conditions, presenting unique challenges for families. For parents, ensuring their child's well-being now and in the future is paramount. Estate planning takes on a new level of importance if you have a child who may not be able to fully care for themselves. Special needs trusts are key tools in this journey. They're designed to supplement public assistance benefits, covering expenses that enhance the quality of life while respecting the individuality of the child. The trust requires a trusted individual to manage the funds, and its structuring is crucial to avoid disqualifying the child from government assistance. When planning, thoughtful decisions about trustees and asset allocation are essential. Open, transparent communication within the family is vital to prevent misunderstandings. If you suspect your child will always need support, consider setting up a special needs trust, even without a formal diagnosis. It's not just about legalities; it's about love, care, and ensuring dignity for your child's life. #estateplanning #specialneedstrust #familycare #specialneedsplanning #wills #texaslawyer 💕📝

The Early Childhood Intervention Best Practice Network has released a white paper for Foundational Supports and the Disability Ecosystem for Children with Developmental Concerns, Delays, Differences and Disabilities: Principles, Best Practices and Solutions. This Network is made up of 19 not-for-profit child and family organisations that provide early childhood intervention services and/or early childhood education with an average of 55 years of experience; and SDN is proud to be one of the founding members. The paper emphasises the need for a distinct model of foundational and disability supports for children under the age of 16, based on best practices in early childhood intervention and tailored to the ages and stages of the child. This model recognises how critical the first five years of a child’s life are for development.   The paper is intended to inform policy-makers and decision-makers regarding observations ‘on the ground’ from the community-based not-for-profit perspective, primarily in NSW. These observations are made from our direct, collective, and extensive history in supporting children and families in the community. The paper summarises our recommendations and outlines possible solutions to constructively contribute toward shaping a future service system that is aligned to the ‘Best Practice Guidelines’ in Early Childhood Intervention. You can view the paper here - https://lnkd.in/ggKqyh-Y #sdnchildrensservices #disabilitysupport #earlychildhoodintervention #earlychildhoodmatters

Child- and family-serving professionals often work with vulnerable children and youth—those who have or are at risk of developmental disabilities or delays. Early identification of developmental disabilities or delays is critical for a child’s #health and well-being. When disabilities and delays are caught early, steps can be taken to improve the child’s short- and long-term outcomes. Early identification and intervention can also reduce family stress and ensure that #parents have the help they need to support their children effectively. Providers play an important role in this effort. To learn more, check out CBLCC's brief here: https://lnkd.in/e7haqBEy #DDawareness2024 #DDAM2024 #developmentaldisabilitiesawareness #childdevelopment #childabuseprevention #childwelfare

Envisage Families is a program crafted in collaboration with parents, service providers and researchers designed to support parents of children with #disability and developmental concerns, including #FirstNations parents. Learn more about the programs and how to take part. #AutismFamily #AutismSupport #NationalFamiliesWeek

This week, we delved into Module 8: Everyday Activities from our Baby Ubuntu program at Ummeed Child Development Center, a participatory group initiative designed for caregivers of children with developmental disabilities. Co-facilitated by expert parent, this program spans 12 comprehensive modules. In this module, we brought together all the insights and skills we've acquired so far, focusing on leveraging everyday activities as opportunities for inclusion and participation. Caregivers practiced: - Good positioning - Engaging play - Effective communication These groups aims to empower caregivers to integrate these practices into daily routines, ensuring that every activity becomes a chance for growth and inclusion for their children. #ChildDevelopment #EarlyIntervention #InclusiveCare #ParentSupport #BabyUbuntu #UmmeedChildDevelopmentCenter #EverydayActivities #DevelopmentalDisabilities #CaregiverEmpowerment

Your Feedback is Needed! Area of Priority: Supporting the family to support the child – Family Partnership Workers Purpose: We want to hear YOUR experiences to make sure our conversations with the Government lead to the continual improvement of this vital service. Family Partnership Worker: Our parents highly value this service as a 'lifeline' while navigating the system alongside the complexities of family life. Our Early Years Pod parents have identified that the opt in/opt out system of the service poses challenges. Families in crisis need immediate support, yet they have faced waiting up to 12 weeks for support. Please share your thoughts, experiences, and suggestions through our short survey - link in comments. https://lnkd.in/enYd9gFT #FeedbackNeeded #specialneeds #FamilyFirst #disability

Let's promote inclusion and support for those with developmental challenges. Here are 3 ways we can help: 💓 Foster Inclusive Spaces: Create environments where everyone feels welcomed and valued. Encourage businesses, schools, and public places to implement accessible accommodations and promote understanding. 👨🏫 Educate and Advocate: Spread awareness about developmental disabilities by sharing accurate information and advocating for inclusive policies and practices. Knowledge is power in breaking down barriers and fostering acceptance. 🤝 Extend Compassionate Support: Offer a helping hand and genuine empathy to individuals and families affected by developmental disabilities. Small acts of kindness and understanding can make a big difference in someone's life. Together, let's build a more inclusive and supportive community for all! #DevelopmentalDisabilitiesAwarenessMonth #InclusionMatters #linkedinforbusiness #pediatrictherapy

Capacity Building Grants for Family Support Networks are now available. The grant program aims to help families and #caregivers to find peer-to-peer support in their community, share information, and build connections for their care recipients and themselves. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/d5F5iDzq Community Living Ontario Partners for Planning Autism Ontario Community Living Toronto Microboards Ontario Developmental Services Ontario