Essay --

CHILDREN WITH A DISABILITY Children with a disability are children first Around 320,000 Australian children 0-14 years have a disability Disabilities that affect children are intellectual, psychiatric, sensory/speech, acquired brain injury and physical. The prevalence of profound or severe disability in children is gradually increasing1 , particularly among children aged 5-14. The main area of increase is intellectually disabling conditions, most reported as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (AHDH).2 Also reported is a dramatic increase in the rate of diagnosis of Autism spectrum disorders (atypical neurological functioning) over the past decade.3 The majority of children with a disability live with their families During much of the 20th Century, children with a disability were provided with ‘whole of life’ services, usually in large, segregated institutional settings. The process of ‘deinstitutionalisation’ that has occurred over recent decades is one of the leading policy and structural transformations in health and community services of the last century. Between 1981 and 1996, the number of people aged 0-14 accommodated in institutions almost halved.4 Children with disabilities belong with their families, not in institutions, but families often require extra financial assistance and services to care for a son or daughter with a disability. Without such support, the impact of disability can impose significant pressure on parents and siblings and can lead to family breakdown. Most children with a disability go to the local school In 2001, using a narrow definition of disability that excluded children with specific learning difficulties, State Education Departments identified 114,250 st... ...rge multi-service organisations, and are located in every State and Territory across Australia. NDS defines its purpose under two broad categories. Firstly, it works to increase the capacity of its members to operate efficiently and effectively through provision of information, networking opportunities, and corporate partnerships. Secondly, NDS exists to make the voices of people with disabilities and their service providers heard by governments at both state/territory and federal levels. By so doing, NDS influences public policy to deliver outcomes that are responsive to the needs of people with disabilities and their providers. NDS has a National Secretariat in Canberra and offices in every State and Territory. More information: Locked Bag 3002 DEAKIN WEST ACT 2600 Phone: 02 6283 3200 Fax: 02 6281 3488 Email: nds@nds.org.au Web: www.nds.org.au Essay -- CHILDREN WITH A DISABILITY Children with a disability are children first Around 320,000 Australian children 0-14 years have a disability Disabilities that affect children are intellectual, psychiatric, sensory/speech, acquired brain injury and physical. The prevalence of profound or severe disability in children is gradually increasing1 , particularly among children aged 5-14. The main area of increase is intellectually disabling conditions, most reported as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (AHDH).2 Also reported is a dramatic increase in the rate of diagnosis of Autism spectrum disorders (atypical neurological functioning) over the past decade.3 The majority of children with a disability live with their families During much of the 20th Century, children with a disability were provided with ‘whole of life’ services, usually in large, segregated institutional settings. The process of ‘deinstitutionalisation’ that has occurred over recent decades is one of the leading policy and structural transformations in health and community services of the last century. Between 1981 and 1996, the number of people aged 0-14 accommodated in institutions almost halved.4 Children with disabilities belong with their families, not in institutions, but families often require extra financial assistance and services to care for a son or daughter with a disability. Without such support, the impact of disability can impose significant pressure on parents and siblings and can lead to family breakdown. Most children with a disability go to the local school In 2001, using a narrow definition of disability that excluded children with specific learning difficulties, State Education Departments identified 114,250 st... ...rge multi-service organisations, and are located in every State and Territory across Australia. NDS defines its purpose under two broad categories. Firstly, it works to increase the capacity of its members to operate efficiently and effectively through provision of information, networking opportunities, and corporate partnerships. Secondly, NDS exists to make the voices of people with disabilities and their service providers heard by governments at both state/territory and federal levels. By so doing, NDS influences public policy to deliver outcomes that are responsive to the needs of people with disabilities and their providers. NDS has a National Secretariat in Canberra and offices in every State and Territory. More information: Locked Bag 3002 DEAKIN WEST ACT 2600 Phone: 02 6283 3200 Fax: 02 6281 3488 Email: nds@nds.org.au Web: www.nds.org.au