Our early childhood intervention program offers a team of professionals in special education, speech, occupational and physiotherapy, and social work in some areas. Family and staff work together to plan the family’s “mix” of service in response to their current priorities.

This beautiful picture along with all the other pictures at the top of each Lifestart web page, were drawn by children in our Early Childhood Intervention Program.

For members and non-members:

• Open Playgroup

For members:

• Flexible range of play-based learning groups where the whole family may take part;
• Access to professionals in special education, speech, occupational and physiotherapy;
• Development of Individual Family Service Plans (IFSP);
• Home visits;
• Educational workshops for family members and support people;
• Transition to school programs;
• Assistance in locating other resources and services that may provide additional support to families;
• Other programs and services that support the family as needs change;

Open Playgroup
Open Playgroup welcomes all families. It is designed to offer a stimulating and welcoming experience to families with an infant or preschooler who has, or is at risk of having, an intellectual disability or developmental delay. Staffed by a special educator, therapists, aides and volunteers, Open Playgroup includes planned playtime activities, group time, snack time, and opportunities for parent-to-parent contact and discussion. Click here to find your nearest Lifestart Open Playgroup.

Play-based learning groups
Families and professionals learning and playing together in a group setting is the core of Lifestart’s services. Each play-based learning group enables families to work towards their goals in a small group setting, developing and practising strategies in a comfortable, friendly and familiar setting with professional support and family-to-family contact. The environments are “engineered” so that each child has access to activities and routines which will promote their individual development.

Individual sessions
Special education teachers, speech therapists, occupational therapists and physiotherapists are vital members of the Lifestart team. Sessions supporting the family’s goals for their child are held at Lifestart centres, preschools, in the home, and in the community, such as the park or shopping centre.

Home Visits
Home visits are often chosen by Lifestart families to develop strategies for use specifically in the home. This may include exploring ways to use daily routines, such as mealtimes, as opportunities for learning, or planning a way to approach challenging behaviour.

Educational workshops
Lifestart understands that information is empowering. Based upon member families’ needs, Lifestart offers a variety of workshops and seminars. Sessions include behaviour management, toilet training, communication, transition to school, and others.

Resource Assistance
Lifestart members can access Lifestart’s library of books and other resources. Lifestart operates a revolving library of information and resources to each of its branches through a generous grant from the St. George Foundation.

For more information about our Early Childhood Intervention Services:
please call our Head Office (02) 9807 9700
or contact us here.

Autism
Autism is a lifelong developmental disability which affects language, social development, cognitive and sensory processing.

Autism Spectrum Australia (ASPECT): http://www.autismnsw.com.au/

Diet and Nutrition FAQ: http://depts.washington.edu/nutrpeds/faq/diagnosis/autism.htm

A4 - Autism and Aspergers Advocacy Australia: http://autism.anu.edu.au/A4_Home.html

A wide number of articles about Autism: http://www.hunter.apana.org.au/~cas/

Families for Early Autism Treatment: http://www.feat.org/

Wendy Lawson’s homepage: http://www.mugsy.org/wendy/index2.htm

Cure Autism Now - research into autism: http://www.canfoundation.org/aboutcan/aboutcan.cfm

Angelman Syndrome
Angelman Syndrome (AS) is a rare neuro-genetic disorder occurring in about one on 20,000 births.

Australian Angelman Syndrome Association: http://www.angelmansyndrome.org/

Achondroplasia (short stature)
Achondroplasia is a genetic condition that results in very short stature.

Short Statured People of Australia: http://www.sspa.org.au/sspa.htm

Little People America: http://www.lpaonline.org/index.html

Asperger Syndrome
Asperger Syndrome is an autism spectrum disorder affecting speech, social development and cognitive and sensory processing.

OASIS: Online Asperger Syndrome Information and Support: http://www.udel.edu/bkirby/asperger/

Asthma
People with asthma have sensitive airways in their lungs, which can make it hard for them to breathe.

http://www.asthmaaustralia.org.au/

ADHD
Individuals with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Attention Deficit Disorder have difficulty concentrating and attending to task.

A listing of Australian support groups for ADD/ADHD: http://www.adders.org/ausmap.htm

Articles, resources, and chat about ADHD/ADD http://www.understandingadhd.com/

Behaviour Support
Here are some websites focusing on helping families with effective behaviour strategies.

Using Specific Praise: http://www.chp.edu/parents/08c_behaving.php

Positive Behavioural Support (PBS):
http://www.ukc.ac.uk

Brain Injury
Brain injuries are the result of sustained trauma where the brain does not get enough blood or oxygen.

Brain Injury Association of NSW: http://www.biansw.org.au/

Communication
Here are some websites focusing on different ways to communicate. ISAAC: International Society for Augmentative and Alternative

Communication: http://www.isaac-online.org/

PECS: Using the Picture Exchange system: http://www.pecs.com/

Boardmaker: http://www.mayer-johnson.com/software/Boardmkr.html

Using Visual Supports: http://www.angelfire.com/ky/touristinfo/index5.html

Using Signs with children with Down syndrome: http://www.altonweb.com

Using signs with babies with and without disabilities: http://www.babysigns.com/

Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral Palsy is a disorder of movement control, which results from damage to part of the brain.

The Spastic Centre: http://www.thespasticcentre.org.au/

Cystic Fibrosis
In Cystic Fibrosis there is a problem with the protein that controls the movement of salt in and out of the cells, affecting the lungs and digestive systems.

http://www.cysticfibrosis.org.au/

Dads
Here are some websites focusing on supporting fathers.

The Father’s Network, supporting fathers of children with a disability: http://www.fathersnetwork.org/554.html

Mens Line Australia - supporting fathers through phone counselling (1300789978), information and advocacy: http://www.menslineaus.org.au/

Disability/Special Education
Here are some websites about disability and/or special education.

Women with Disabilities Australia: www.wwda.org.au

ERIC website: an enormous storehouse of articles on a wide range of issues and interests. http://www.askeric.org

E-BILITY (Directory of Disability Links) http://www.ebility.com.au/

Ideas for teachers especially directed towards Autism: http://www.tinsnips.org/

Ideas for special education pre/primary: http://www.do2learn.com/

Ideas for speech activities. http://www.speechteach.co.uk/

Disability resources on the net http://www.disabilityresources.org/

Disability Online (an international site) http://www.disabilityonline.com/

Council for Exceptional Children: a large storehouse of articles about Special Education. http://www.cec.sped.org

Down Syndrome/Trisomy 21
Down syndrome occurs when there are 3 copies of the 21st chromosome instead of 2.

Down Syndrome NSW: http://www.dsansw.org.au/

A fun site (with cool t-shirts): http://www.unomas21.com/

A positive site for new families of a child with Down Syndrome: http://www.downsyn.com/

Early Childhood Intervention
Here are some websites about or offering Early Childhood Intervention Services.

Learning Links offers a family-centred ECI program for kids with disabilities or learning difficulties: http://www.learninglinks.org.au/

Family Support
Here are some websites focusing on support for the family or carers of people with a disability.

Carers Australia: http://www.carersaustralia.com.au/

The Family Village: links and resources for families of children with a disability: http://www.familyvillage.wisc.edu

Eparent.com; an online magazine for parents of children with a disability: http://www.eparent.com/

Fragile X
Fragile X is a developmental disorder caused by a mutation in the X chromosome.

Fragile X association of Australia: http://www.fragilex.org.au

Genetic Disorders
Here are a few websites covering very rare genetic disorders.

Trisomy 13, 18 and related disorders: http://www.trisomy.org/

Rare genetic disorders in children homepage: http://www.kumc.edu/gec/support/

Grandparents
Here are some web pages supporting grandparents of children with special needs.

A UK webpage about Grandparents: http://www.cafamily.org.uk/grandparents.html

Hearing Impairment
Here are some Australian sites focused on hearing impairments in children.

The Shepherd Centre: http://www.shepherdcentre.com.au/

The Deaf Society of NSW: http://www.deafsocietynsw.org.au/

Discussion group for parents of children with hearing impairments: http://www.aussiedeafkids.com/

Intellectual Disabilities/Developmental Delay
These websites focus generally on intellectual disability.

The ARC - providing information and advocacy: http://www.thearc.org/

NSW council for intellectual disability: http://www.nswcid.org.au/

Inclusion International: http://www.inclusion-international.org/

Learning Difficulties
These sites focus on helping children who have specific difficulty with numeracy and literacy.

A huge site with a range of links and articles relating to Learning Difficulties: http://www.ldonline.org

SPELD: Specific Learning Difficulties association of NSW: http://www.speldnsw.org.au

CIERA: Centre for Improvement of Early Reading: http://www.ciera.org/

Nutrition
These websites discuss issues in nutrition for children with disabilities.

For all disabilities: http://www.pediatricpt.com/articles/eating.htm

Diet in children with Autism: http://depts.washington.edu/nutrpeds/faq/diagnosis/autism.htm

Prader-Willi Syndrome
Prader-Willi Syndrome is a rare genetic disorder affecting learning, behaviour, and eating.

Prader Willi Syndrome Association: http://www.pwsausa.org/

Siblings
These websites support siblings of children with a disability.

Siblings Australia: http://www.siblingsaustralia.org.au

Spina Bifida
Spina Bifida is a neural tube defect which occurs in utero.

The Northcott Society: http://www.northcott.org.au/

Special Olympics
The Special Olympics trains athletes with intellectual disabilities to compete internationally.

The main Special Olympics website: http://www.specialolympics.org/

Visual Impairments
These websites focus on the needs of children with visual impairments.

The Royal Blind Society: http://www.rbs.org.au/

The service seeks to empower families to participate in the home and wider community in a positive and meaningful capacity, whilst developing collaborative relationships with professional service providers. Lifestart SAS assists professional service providers and community organizations to better meet the needs of children with disabilities and their families.

For more information about our School Age Services:
please call (02) 8765 0141 or contact us here.

Lifestart receives funding from Ageing, Disability and Home Care, Department of Human Services NSW and the NSW Department of Education and Training.  Lifestart also thanks:

We are looking for people who:

• Enjoy working with children
• Want to develop skills in working with children with special needs, and their families
• Can spare half a day a week or fortnight

We offer a four-week training program of 2 hours per week, before commencing volunteer work.

The Volunteer Coordinator would love to hear from you. Please contact us for further information.

TUESDAYS

Eastwood Branch
9:30am - 11:30am
Somerville Park
679 Blaxland Rd
Eastwood
Ph: 9868 5066

Nepean Branch
10:00am - 12noon
8 - 10 Carinya Avenue
St Mary’s
Ph: 9623 2100

WEDNESDAYS

Hornsby Branch
9:30am - 11:30am
Pennant Hills Centre
4 Ramsay Road
Pennant Hills
Ph: 9484 4895

Eastern Sydney Branch
10:30am - 12:00 noon
Maroubra Baptist Church
139 Garden St
Maroubra
Ph: 9344 4081

THURSDAYS

Northern Beaches Branch
10:00am - 12:00noon
Arranounbai School
5 Aquatic Drive
Frenchs Forest
Ph: 9451 9564

Inner West Branch
10:30am - 12:00 noon
Ardill House
132 Davidson Avenue
North Strathfield
Ph: 9743 2902

FRIDAY

Cumberland/Prospect Branch
9:30am - 11:30am
Quakers Hill (for 3+ year olds)
Quakers Hill Family Centre
32 Highfield Rd
Quakers Hill

Cumberland/Prospect Branch
9:30am - 11:30am
(for babies & crawlers)
Bldg 25, Balcombe Heights Estate
92 Seven Hills Rd
Baulkham Hills
Ph: 9686 9049

I found out about Lifestart through the Down syndrome association; my daughter has Down syndrome and special needs with which Lifestart provides assistance.

After attending playgroup for the first time I felt like Lifestart was going to be the answer to my prayers. Seeing what they were going to offer my daughter made me feel that everything was going to work out for us. The individual sessions where strategies are created and goals are set have been really helpful, as well as the Hanen and signing courses.

My advice for new families is that there is hope. Don’t feel like you are alone because the Lifestart family is there to help.