Occupational Therapists focus on children’s performance of everyday self care, fine motor and play activities with an aim to enhance their development and independence. Occupational Therapists treat children with disabilities/special needs between the ages of 2.5 to 5 years for therapy and assess children aged 3 to 15 years for housing modification and equipment needs. We can work alongside you and your child to help develop your child’s self care skills and independence e.g. dressing and feeding. We can support you to develop fine motor, perceptual and play skills that your child may currently find challenging, such as pencil grip, puzzles and scissor skills. We can prescribe equipment and housing modifications (within Accessable guidelines) to make it easier and safer for you and your family to care for your child, whilst promoting your child’s participation and independence in daily activities. Housing modifications referrals are made through Taikura Trust.

Physiotherapists work with families or whanau to develop physical functioning and preserve health in children through activity and participation in the community. Physiotherapists treat children with disabilities/special needs from 2.5 years upwards. We can educate parents on how to encourage more movement from a young age e.g. jumping, running, balancing. Develop specific therapeutic programs to enhance activity levels and function Provide orthotics and equipment (within the Accessable guidelines), such as walking frames and standing frames, to promote activity. Explore recreational programs in the community for more fun and long term fitness and health.

Social workers assess the social, psychological and emotional situations of individuals to identify their needs as well as those of their family. They also offer supportive counselling by linking families to practical services available within their community. We accept referrals for Social Work Intervention when the child is already known to a therapist or is awaiting therapy intervention from our team. We provide the following support: Supportive and crisis counselling: grief and loss relationships stress/anger/confusion Other areas of support: respite access to childcare entitlements e.g. disability, health and welfare.

Visiting Neurodevelopmental Therapists (VNT) are either a registered Physiotherapist or Occupational Therapist. They focus on infants and toddlers performance of everyday self care, gross motor, fine motor and play activities with an aim to enhance their development and independence. Visiting Neurodevelopmental Therapists treat children with disabilities/special needs under the age of 2.5 years. We use specific therapeutic activities and techniques to assess and treat with an emphasis on function. We can support and upskill the family/whanau to implement a home programme which uses daily routines to maximise the child’s potential. We work in a transdisciplinary role assessing all areas of a child’s development. We can prescribe equipment (within Accessable guidelines) to make it easier and safer for you and your family to care for your child, whilst promoting your child’s participation and independence in daily activities. .

Speech-Language Therapists (SLT) work with children with communication and/or feeding difficulties. Speech Language Therapists treat children with disabilities/special needs under the age of 3 years provided the child also requires another therapy from child development. We assess a child’s communication difficulties through play and therapy activities. We educate parents to encourage early communication in infants and toddlers during play. This can include different ways of communication such as the use of Makaton sign language or visuals. We assess a child’s feeding difficulties and provide support and education to encourage the safest and most appropriate feeding method. Some children who have feeding difficulties may go on to have a Videofluoroscopic Swallow Study (VFS) which is an xray of swallowing. Children over the age of 3 with significant feeding problems may be seen by the SLT and Dietician in the Feeding and Nutrition Clinic. Cleft Lip and Palate Services through Counties Manukau Health are run in parallel to Child Development Speech Language Therapy.

Community paediatric service for children with disabilities. A community based service team, providing therapy and social work to assist children with disabilities (including Down syndrome, global developmental delay and cleft lip and/or palate) and their family/whanau achieve their full potential in their daily lives. We work with children in schools, kindergartens, home, community, clinics and recreation centres. Speech Language Therapists work with children between 0 and 3 years of age and their families who have been referred with communication and/or feeding difficulties. Children with communication difficulties will only be seen for Speech Language Therapy if they require another therapy (such as Physiotherapy) as well. The service provides assessment and treatment of: feeding and swallowing early communication skills language disorder and/or delay speech disorders feeding and swallowing AAC – Alternative and Augmentative Communication