ECI Brisbane
Parents with younger children or babies with developmental delays or disabilities will have difficulties caring for their children and feel frustrated with giving them the best care. However, children with developmental delays or disabilities need healthcare professionals' assistance at an early age to improve their condition and reduce the need for long-term intervention to have a comfortable life. Thus, the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) offers the Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) to citizens and residents of Brisbane through Positive Moods, for parents with children below 7 years old who have a disability or worrying about their child’s developmental milestones.
Through the ECI program, different forms of support are provided to children 0-6 years old with developmental delay or disability. The program also assists families and carers in determining their child's needs so that they can get adequate support and live their lives to the fullest. Citizens and residents of Brisbane are encouraged to avail of the ECI program from Positive Moods, a registered NDIS service provider, which can help them apply and access long-term support from the NDIS. Positive Moods will work closely with the child’s family and carers, ensuring an efficient and convenient process to avail support from the local community and NDIS.
What is ECI?
ECI stands for Early Childhood Intervention, an approach designed for younger children 0-6 years old with a disability or developmental delay, supporting them and their families and carers. Through the ECI, children with disabilities or developmental delays will receive early support that matches their needs and conditions. The program also considers that families know the best for their children. The ECI applies a family-centred approach that allows families to work closely with intervention specialists. It can help families implement efficient strategies to assist them and their children with their daily routines and activities, both at home and in the community.
In addition, this program provides the Early Childhood Approach (ECA) to younger children below 6-years old despite not meeting developmental delay if there are developmental concerns. This approach uses evidence-based research, focuses on strength-based, and applies the Best Practise Guidelines for Early Childhood Intervention, which can assist the child in developing their maximum capacity. Under the ECA, the families and carers of children can also seek the best support from the community, providing better opportunities in growing and learning. In short, ECI is all about giving families and their children with disability, developmental delay, or have developmental concerns adequate support to assist them at the early stage of their life.
How is ECI administered?
Since the early years of a child’s life is vital in learning and developing as they grow older, the ECI program is beneficial in determining a child’s developmental condition, efficient strategies, and the best support to prepare them in life. As for parents and carers who have children with disability, developmental delays, or have developmental concerns, Positive Moods will be your first point of contact. They can assist in determining your child's needs and planning for support, aiming to give them the best life and partake in daily activities. Positive Moods will also link families to the local community to access beneficial services, such as daycare centres, playgroups, and related programs for child's health and development.
Additionally, accessing the ECI at Positive Moods can assist children and families apply for a long-term NDIS support plan and provide them with an ECI or ECA plan. Positive Moods will also provide highly-experienced developmental specialists knowledgeable in providing early education, allied health, or family support, which help families and carers understand children's conditions and areas of their life that require assistance. Later on, the families, carers, and developmental specialists will decide the most appropriate support for the child. Also, this program applies the Best Practise Guidelines for Early Childhood Intervention, ensuring the best support and strategies provided to children with disability and developmental delays.
How can ECEI help?
Under the ECI program, families and careers will work with developmental specialists to determine and provide the best support plan to younger children with disability, developmental delay, or have developmental concerns. Moreover, ECA and ECI can assist children, families, and carers in many ways, including:
Provide support as early as possible, ensuring access to necessary supports
Provide daily support including at home, daycare, playgroup, community activities, and sports
Provide the best information to practise with children for Early Childhood Intervention
Provide support to families and carers to help children acquire and apply new abilities
Provide varying types of services and supports to children and families based on their condition and needs
Boost parent's and carers' capacity and confidence in managing and responding to the needed support of children's
Boost children's abilities to perform daily activities they want or need
Boost children's involvement and engagement in mainstream and community environments, such as recreation or daycare
Provide information regarding necessary support services such as parent support groups or playgroups
Aside from that, Positive Moods will work with the community to determine the most efficient and beneficial intervention that supports each child's needs. The support provided will also include the latest universal services available in the community and serve as a path for children with permanent disabilities to apply and acquire long-term support plans from the NDIS.
How to access ECI?
To access ECI, the citizens and residents of Brisbane may book a meeting with Positive Moods. Working with Early Childhood Partner like Positive Moods is essential as families and carers can work closely with highly-trained specialists, who can assist them in understanding the condition and support needed by children. The specialists will then create an ECI or ECA plan. But before anything else, families and carers should prepare some things before booking a meeting with Positive Moods to increase their chances of acquiring a support plan, including:
Collect any evidence that can prove or show that your child requires support. It can be anything such as letters children's have written to people they are close with or a formal letter from a healthcare professional. Although a diagnosis is not necessary, it is essential to provide your Early Childhood Partner an overview of the child's life and why ECI is needed.
Also, determine your goals and your child's goals in acquiring the ECI support. It is essential to set a goal since the ECI plan should consist of support that can benefit children.
For more details on NDIS Assessments, citizens and residents of Ipswich who are existing participants or manifesting permanent and significant disability, may call Positive Moods on 1300 001 470, email at ndis@positivemoods.com.au, or fill in the contact form on https://www.positivemoods.com.au/contactus.