Resources for National Psychology Week

This is Psychology Week here in Australia, an initiative of the Australian Psychological Society, aiming 'to increase public awareness of how psychology can help people and communities lead healthier, happier and more meaningful lives.'

People with Down syndrome and other intellectual disabilities, and those who care for them can benefit from information about psychology, resources to promote mental health, and professional psychological services just like everyone else.

Click here for general information about Psychology Week events, activities and resources. You can find resources specifically relating to psychology and people with intellectual disability by entering 'intellectual disability' in the search box on the website.

Other resources:

• The Intellectual Disability Mental Health First Aid Manual (2nd edition, 2010) can be downloaded here.

• The Intellectual Disability Behaviour Support Program at the University of NSW '...  works to address the research-to-policy-and-practice nexus to improve support for people with intellectual disability and complex support needs.' 

You can learn more about the program, and its Chair, Associate Professor Leanne Dowse, by visiting the website, and downloading the program flyer.

• Accessible Mental Health Services for People with an Intellectual Disability: A Guide for Providers (otherwise known asThe Guide) was developed by UNSW researchers in the Department of Developmental Disability Neuropsychiatry (3DN) in 2014, providing a national framework for action for all frontline mental health service professionals. 

• School Link at the Children's Hospital, Westmead supports the mental health needs of children and adolescents with an intellectual disability

•  Previous posts on this blog related to mental health

New disability program to address service gaps for country kids

Royal Far West media release, 10th November 2015

Royal Far West has today launched a new intensive, early intervention therapy service for children with disabilities from rural and regional NSW, designed specifically to address major service gaps for country kids. 

 The ‘Windmill Program’ offers a range of services to support children with mild to moderate disabilities. Services are offered on site at the Royal Far West health and wellbeing campus at Manly and are available to country children aged between 2-7 years of age who can access the Department of Social Services BetterStart or Helping Children with Autism Packages (HCWA). Subsequent support and follow up is available to children and their families in their local community via dedicated RFW telecare programs.

The Windmill Program has been developed in response to major gaps in the provision of early intervention services outside of city areas, which can often create barriers for children and their families in accessing the support they need, particularly in the area of specialist allied health services.

Current research shows that rural children with a disability are around 23% less likely to register with BetterStart and Helping Children with Autism (HCWA) and are accessing up to 60% less funding than urban-based families due to a lack of access to services. It also demonstrates a serious shortage of allied health professionals in country Australia, particularly in the field of clinical psychology ... read the full text of the media release here.

• Prime 7 News report on Windmill Program 

About Royal Far West

Royal Far West is a non-government organisation that has been providing health services to children living in rural and remote New South Wales since 1924 ... Every year, thousands of country children who have non-acute developmental, behavioural, learning, emotional and mental health disorders, and limited access to local services, benefit from our integrated clinical and educational model of care.

Advice on supporting early language development

A common question for families everywhere:
When to Start Speech Therapy for Children with Down Syndrome 

Jennifer Bekins, Talk-Down Syndrome, 15th September 2014

... Most children with DS are in preschool or kindergarten when goals for articulation are established. Until then, therapy focuses on the child’s ability to understand and use words and gestures to communicate ...

• Other posts on this blog about communication

Occupational Therapy Awareness Week

• Occupational Therapy Australia provides a searchable directory for OTs working in a range of fields via its website.