ACT children under four years of age with a developmental delay or disability can now get access to funding if eligible through the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
Minister for Disability Joy Burch urged any families of young children currently accessing early intervention or therapy services who have not yet made contact with the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) to do so as soon as possible.
“The NDIA is now helping families with children under four years old who may have a disability, autism or a developmental delay,” Ms Burch said.
“The NDIA will be able to determine if your child meets the eligibility requirements and needs some support, and how to get that support. They can provide funding to ensure your child gets the best start in life.”
The ACT Government will transition its early intervention programs currently provided by the Education and Training Directorate for children who are not yet enrolled in school to community providers at the beginning of the 2015 school year. Therapy ACT will continue to provide services until December 2016.
“From next year children who are eligible for the NDIS and have not yet started school will be linked with new community-based early intervention providers,” Ms Burch said.
“Six providers have been selected in a tender process to deliver these services from next year. They are now in contract negotiations and final arrangements will be in place soon.
“Families will be able to meet these new providers at an Open Day on 17 November at the Hedley Beare Centre for Teaching and Learning.
“But because these contracts are non-exclusive, any other provider wishing to offer early intervention or therapy services in the ACT under the NDIS will still be able to do so.
“Likewise, families wishing to use a different provider will be able to do so. I encourage any providers interested in delivering these services to register with the NDIA as soon as possible, and encourage families to talk to the NDIA and find out if their child is eligible.”
The NDIA can be contacted on 1800 800 110 or at 212 Northbourne Avenue in Braddon, and the One Human Services Gateway, 153 Emu Bank in Belconnen.
(Joy Burch Media Release)
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