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• The CDS team is committed to helping children achieve optimum function and well-being.

• It provides therapy, management, and information, as well as support in the home and community in partnership with caregivers.

• All members of the team work closely with your family doctor, paediatricians, local Group Special Education services and associated organisations to provide an holistic approach to the care of your child.

• They are a district wide team, with therapists based at Nelson and Wairau Hospitals that offers advice and guidance to whanau and families of newborn children to school leavers.

What to expectAt your child’s first appointment the therapist will carry out a thorough assessment.

If appropriate, a therapy programme will be developed, in partnership with you, your child and where relevant, your child’s school.

Your therapist will continually re-assess and adapt this programme to suit your child’s changing needs.

Where appropriate one of the following may be offered:

Individual sessions where individually designed activity programmes are carried out. These are monitored and evaluated at regular intervals.

Group Therapy set exercises or games with a small group of children of a similar age and needs.

Hydrotherapy exercises/ therapy programmes carried out in a heated pool.

Image retrieved from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Child_development

Autism Spectrum Disorder

Coordinator

Paediatric Physiotherapist Speech Language

Therapist

Paediatric Disability Social Worker

Paediatric Occupational Therapist

Visiting Neuro-

Developmental Therapist

Paediatric Physiotherapist……… have specialised training assisting children who experience challengeswith movement, motor skills, coordination and respiration. They facilitatepost operative rehabilitation and provision of orthotics, mobility aids andpostural management equipment.

Paediatric Disability Social Worker ………….offers support with parenting issues, financial or practical difficulties, stress and advocacy for children & their whānau / families.

Speech Language Therapist……..provide services for children with disabilities who have feeding orswallowing difficulties. This may also include supporting studentswith alternative forms of communication, such as signing andcommunication devices.

Paediatric Occupational Therapist……..specialise in assisting children to develop skills in the areas of self care,school and play. This includes: fine motor skills, dressing, handwriting,visual perception, sensory, behavioural / attention and social skills.They also provide an assessment and advice on wheelchairs, householdequipment, housing and vehicle modifications.

Visiting Neuro-Developmental Therapists…..are registered Physiotherapists or Occupational Therapists withpostgraduate experience and thorough knowledge of child development.They specialise in children under 5 years of age and provide a holistic approach to your child’s development. Based in the community, they work with children in their homes, and visit preschools or any other facility as requested by caregivers.

The CDS will accept referrals from GPs, Paediatricians, or other alliedmedical professionals.

How often will the child be seen?The number and frequency of visits varies according to the individual needsof each child. The therapist will discuss any changes to the time and frequency of visits.It has been found that children respond best to a programme of activities orexercises that can be incorporated into their normal routine at home or in school.

Where will the child be seen?The child will be seen in the most appropriate setting, including:HomeSchoolPlaygroupChild Development CentreHospital, Hydrotherapy Pool

Therapy Aims:

• Assist families and caregivers to provide the best care and environmental support to enable their child to reach his/her potential

• Help identify and minimise any neurological, health or social related problems, embracing the 24 hour postural management approach

• Provide physical and developmental assessments, ongoing therapy and individual programmes covering all areas of development

• Assess for and prescribe mobility and daily living aids, seating, therapy equipment, wheelchairs, vehicle adaptions and house alterations to maximise the child’s potential and assist in their management

• Provide therapy services post surgery if related to child’s disability

• Provide information, education and support relating to the child’s needs

• Refer to other support agencies

• Advocate for the child and his/her family

Agencies that Child Development have Links with

Needs Assessment Services

Kids Health

Equipment Providers

New Zealand CCS

Early Intervention ServiceGroup Special Education

Plunket

Child Development Services

Nelson Hospital, Tipahi StreetNelson 7010

Private Bag 18, NELSON 7040

Phone: 03 546 1211Email: CDS@nmhs.govt.nz

Contact Details

How can Child Development Services Help in Our School?

“(paediatric OT/ ASD coordinator) is a great point of contact and will be able to direct you to the right service when a family is not sure where to go or who to talk to with regards to a specific problem. “parent

“(paediatric occupational therapist) has been great at offering ideas re a sensory diet.”parent

I think teachers need much more information on how to adapt the classroom environment and curriculum for children with learning/concentration and sensory issues so we are happy to upskill teachers and RTLB’s. CDS Team Leader

This power point is based on and with kind permission, reproduced from information from The Child Development brochure available online at http://www.nmdhb.govt.nz/filesGallery/New%20Website/04When%20I%20Need%20Care/CDSBrochureSm.pdf and on information from the following websitehttp://www.nmdhb.govt.nz/ChildYouth.aspx