I wish I knew what to do…

Written By Jodyne Greig

During my 20 + year career in the disability sector, the commonly echoed theme I’ve heard from countless caregivers is, “I wish I knew what to do… how to help”.

Bringing in services to provide therapy has its place, but parents and caregivers have the greatest potential to make a difference on a day to day basis if they are supported and taught strategies and therapy interventions to better assist their child and their development.

A Telethon Institute ground breaking study in Western Australia detailed “parent-child interactions are a powerful tool through which we can support brain development for developmentally vulnerable kids” and their study demonstrated that “early intervention with infants at risk of autism through therapy led by their parents, improves the child’s social development to such an extent they are two-thirds less likely to meet the clinical criteria for an autism diagnosis”.

So how can carers better support their child in a way that isn’t demanding, exhausting or adding to their already immense load? Being both a professional in the field and also a parent carer, I know first-hand the anguish of wanting to do more and not be helpless, while already barely coping with the daily demands caregiving brings.

In a series of short articles like this, and in the attached resources I will provide ideas and suggestions that are relatively easy to implement - such as:

  • Ways to build their child’s self esteem and self-confidence in a world with a deficit disability focus

  • Ways to incorporate therapy in fun, easy ways through daily living

  • Ways to make the most of NDIS funding

So check this page periodically to see what new information has been added.

Jodyne Greig