NDIS Supports for Children with Early Intervention Explained
The Early Childhood Approach (ECA), previously known as Early Childhood Early Intervention, aka ECEI, helps children under 6 with developmental delays and children between 6 to 9 with disabilities get fast access to the NDIS support services they need.
The main goal of the ECA is to give children and their families the best possible start in life. What's great is that children under six don't even need an official diagnosis to get help through this approach.
This NDIS (National Disability Insurance Scheme) initiative was created using evidence-based research and insights from top experts in early childhood intervention.
Let's learn more about the unified NDIS support for children with early childhood intervention in this comprehensive blog post.
NDIS Supporting Children With Learning Difficulties
It's a fact that about one in five Australian children will face learning difficulties at some point in their lives. These challenges can impact how they learn and grow.
The good news is that the National Disability Insurance Scheme, through its Early Childhood Approach (ECA), NDIS supports over 80,000 children across Australia who have a developmental delay or disability. This vital support ensures children get the early help they need to thrive.
What is Early Childhood Intervention (ECI)?
Supporting a child's development from birth to age 6 is key if they're experiencing developmental delays. This NDIS support is called early childhood early intervention. These delays can show up in many ways, affecting how children:
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Play and move (their fine and gross motor skills)
Handle daily tasks
Interact with others
Communicate their needs
Research consistently shows that starting early intervention as soon as possible leads to better results for children. Approaches like ECA can significantly boost a child's independence and abilities, often reducing the amount of NDIS support they'll need later in life.
What Early Childhood Intervention Supports are Available Under the NDIS?
Every child is unique, and so are their needs when it comes to developmental NDIS support. With the Early Childhood Approach, families partner with an Early Childhood Partner. This partnership helps you figure out your child's specific developmental needs and connects you with helpful local services. These can include things like daycare centers, playgroups, and programs focused on child health and development.
Through an ECA provider, your child can also get access to specialized therapies, such as:
Occupational therapy
Positive behavior support
Exercise physiology
Speech pathology
Psychology
Therapy assistance
When you find the right support for your child, it can make a big difference!
Navigate the NDIS Fund for ECI With Plan Management
The age range for NDIS Plan funding is 9-65. But that doesn't mean children below the age of 9 with any kind of disabilities are left out with no options. Children under nine with developmental delays can access various NDIS supports, including funding through the NDIS Early Childhood Approach.
If your child qualifies for an NDIS plan, you'll need to decide how you want it managed. There are a few options, and picking the right one depends on your needs and how much control you want.
Self-Management: This gives you the most freedom! You'll handle everything by yourself, including keeping records, tracking your budget, and paying invoices. While it offers lots of choice for providers, it can be time-consuming and tricky because the NDIS system is quite complex. You might also need to pay for things upfront and get reimbursed later.
Plan Management: With this option, you can hire a dedicated NDIS Plan Manager from Access Foundation to take care of the financial paperwork for you. We are the helpful link between you and the NDIS regarding payments.
Agency Management: This is the most "hands-free" option. The NDIA (National Disability Insurance Agency) manages your child's NDIS plan. While you won't have as much flexibility in choosing providers, it's a great choice if you're short on time or prefer not to deal with the financial details yourself.
Important Note: NDIA can change how your plan is controlled if you need extra NDIS support with your funds. Currently, this rule affects people with mainly self-guided schemes, but it will eventually apply to all types of planning management.
Final Summary
Understanding and implementing early childhood intervention can be tricky and full of challenges. But, on the brighter side, it opens up exciting chances for your child to be more included, get the right NDIS support, and be part of the community.
Our specialists at Access Foundation will make the ECI transition much smoother for both your child and your family. They'll be there to guide you through all things NDIS, make sure you connect with the right services, and continue to be a personal advocate for your child.