Creating Disability Support Networks

Creating Disability Support Networks – The process of setting up and maintaining a great living situation for a child with special needs can be exhausting. Parents and family members often undertake the majority of daily tasks needed to support the child at home.

Consider your child’s needs, then find a way to provide for them. Here is some information and ideas on living support for disabled children.

Get Advice On What Living Options Might Be Available

The local support co-ordinator can help you make decisions about living options. You may also be eligible for NDIS, which enables disabled people and their families to directly manage disability supports, such as carer support and child development.

For more information on living options and support in your area, contact your local NDIS office and other support organisations. It’s never too early to start planning for adult living options, so think about them during your teen years if possible.

Consider New Options

The Australian government has implemented new programs that use the New Model for disability support, offering greater choice, control and flexibility. Such initiatives include Local Area Coordination, Enhanced Individualised Funding, and Enabling Good Lives.

Create a Network of Support With Family & Friends

One method for finding living options is to create a Circle of Support, including the key people for the child you support—for example, friends, sports team members, family, work colleagues and key workers. These people can meet regularly to discuss goals and ways to achieve them.

When creating a support circle, you should use a map to plot out where the people who will be included live or the locations where you visit each other. You can also create your circle of support as early as possible so that the people included can help plan any changes and development in your child as he or she grows and becomes more independent.

Grow Your Community and New Connections

Creating Disability Support Networks, It is a good idea to get to know your neighbours. You may need their help at some point, and most people are happy to do small favours for each other from time-to-time. Be friendly and introduce yourself face-to-face or use online resources to find out about local community groups you can join.

As opposed to a service-based approach, many people with disabilities prefer to get their support from people and organisations which they naturally come into contact with through their own connections. Developing a mutual relationship with someone else where you can both help each other can often have the best outcome.

For example, if your child wants to attend a hobby group that you cannot get transport for, why not contact the organiser and ask if anyone else attending the group can pick your child up?

You can say “thank you” by offering to help with petrol or doing some extra club administration. These sorts of reciprocal relationships often lead to other great community connections.

Respite for Children With Disabilities

A change of environment, every now and then, can be beneficial to a person’s well-being. Some children you support might have access to funding for respite care, which allows them to take a short break at a community-based residence.

A respite service provides a safe and enjoyable environment for people with disabilities to spend time away from their families. Limited availability, depending on needs and location, makes this a service that may not be right for everyone. When discussing respite services with your local disability provider, keep in mind that they can help you determine whether this service is right for you.

School holiday programmes are available in some areas for children with disabilities—contact your local NDIS or school Special Needs coordinator for details.

Respite for Carers

Carers should look after themselves as well as their charge. For more information on respite care and self-care visit our Carer and Respite support page.

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