NDIS Developmental Education for children and young people

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Occupational Therapy (OT) and Developmental Education (DE) are two different professions that focus on helping individuals with disabilities or developmental delays to achieve their full potential.

Developmental education (DE) is a profession that focuses on providing educational and developmental support to individuals with intellectual, developmental, or learning disabilities. Developmental Educators work with individuals and their relevant stakeholders to develop and enhance their cognitive, social, emotional, and behavioural skills through individualised instruction and support.

Some key differences between Occupational Therapists (OTS) and Developmental Educators (DEs) include:

• Focus: OT focuses on prompting functional independence, whereas DE focuses on enhancing cognitive and developmental skills
• Training: OTs are trained to provide medical and therapeutic interventions, whereas DEs are trained in behaviours and developmental support
• Demographic: OTs work with individuals across the lifespan, including children, adults, and seniors, whereas DEs primarily work with children and young adults
• Settings: OTs work in a variety of healthcare and community settings including hospitals, clinics, schools, and rehabilitation centres. DEs primarily work in educational settings, specialised clinics, and care facilities

Both disciplines play important roles in helping individuals with disabilities achieve their full potential. The choice between the two professions will depend on the specific needs of the individual and their goals for therapeutic intervention.

Developmental Educators promote individualised instructions, guidance, and support to help individuals develop their cognitive, social, emotional, and behavioural skills.

Here are some of the main things a DE may do:

• Assessments: Conduct assessments to identify individual strengths, needs, and goals. These assessments may include:
  • Vineland Adaptive Behaviour Scale
  • Adaptive Behaviour Assessment (ABAS)
  • Sensory Profiles
  • Functional Capacity Assessments
  • Functional Behavioural Assessments
• Develop Individualised Plans: Based on an assessment, a DE may develop a plan, which includes measurable goals and objects that align with the individual’s strengths and needs.
• Teach Skills: Work one-on-one to teach skills that support an individual’s independence, learning and socialisation. This may include social, self-help, and daily living skills.
• Implement Behavioural Interventions: A DE may implement behaviour strategies for individuals with challenging behaviours. This includes interventions for positive reinforcement, behaviour modification and sensory regulation.
• Collaborate with other Professionals: DEs often collaborate with other disciplines such as occupational therapists, speech pathologists and psychologists.
• Provide Family support: DEs may also provide guidance to families and caregivers of individuals with developmental disabilities. They offer strategies and resources for managing behaviours, communication, daily living tasks, as well as emotional support and advocacy.

We work with children aged 9+, teenagers, and adults. Our primary focus is children and young people; however, we are starting to expand our services to support adult clients. As a team, we work together with our Intake Lead to ensure we can match your needs to a suitable Developmental Educator who can help you or your loved one meet their specific goals.

As an NDIS provider of support, we work with clients who have an approved NDIS plan. Our support is provided under the ‘Capacity Building Support – Improved Daily Living’ funding line within a client’s plan.

For further information about this NDIS funding, you can refer to https://www.ndis.gov.au/participants/using-your-plan/managing-your-plan/support-budgets-your-plan

We always communicate with the person’s whole team –  it is important to work together to share our strategies and ideas to make sure that the child or young person is supported by everyone around them. This can include teachers, parents, grandparents, other health professionals or support workers – the best support happens when we have everyone working together.

To get in touch with our friendly team you can contact us here or send an email to [email protected].