Helpful Websites (0-6 years)

The NDIS website contains lots of information to help you no matter what stage you are at. There are booklets you can download, videos and Easy Read information. You can begin at this page:
NDIS

From here, you will find information and videos to explain each stage.

NDIS
This NDIS page has booklets to help you understand the NDIS, develop some goals for your child’s NDIS plan, get ready for a planning meeting and use NDIS plans and funds to find and purchase services and supports.
NDIS Participants

Autism Queensland
Autism Queensland has a Family Goal Setting Tool to help families identify and prioritise goals for their child as well as the family’s needs for information, support, and ways of participating in their community. SWAN has copies of this resource at our office that families can borrow.
Autism QLD – Family Goal Setting Tool

Association for Children with a Disability
Association for Children with a Disability have a free downloadable pre-planning workbook to help you prepare for NDIS plan meetings.
ACD NDIS Planning Workbook

Developmental Disability WA (DDWA)
DDWA’s ‘Making Changes through Goal Setting’, is a step-by-step workbook  to guide you through a series of questions to help set goals for your child and create a road map to help your child achieve the goal.
DDWA Planning and Making Choices

Down Syndrome WA
Down Syndrome WA’s pre-planning workbook is for people with any kind of disability and any age to prepare for NDIS plan meetings.
Down Syndrome Resources

Developmental Disability WA and Early Childhood Intervention Australia have produced this guide for parents to help you understand and use early intervention therapy to support your child’s development.

Every Possibility
This guide for parents aims to provide you with information to help you make decisions and get the help and therapy services needed to build your child’s skills to participate in family, school, and community life.
Flipsnack ECEI Parent Guide

Assistive technology (AT) includes all kinds of equipment and technology to support people with disabilities. Each child is different, but some of the kinds of AT a young child with autism might need could be a communication device (AAC/
PODD), apps, or sensory equipment such as sensory clothing.

NDIS will fund some AT if it relates to a person’s disability and is needed to help them in their daily lives.
NDIS Assistive Technology Guide

Apps

Here are some links to lists of Apps for iPads and other devices that you may find useful to support your child’s development.

AutismApps is an Autism Association of WA website. It provides
comprehensive advice on complex communication, devices, and Apps that they
have reviewed.
Autism WA Apps

Indigo Australasia (formerly Independent Living Centre)
Indigo provides a range of services including assessments and advice on communication technologies and other kinds of AT including sensory equipment.
Indigo Assistive Tech Communication Solutions
Indigo Assistive Technology
They also have a searchable online equipment database.
Indigo National Equipment Database

Sensory equipment

SWAN has a list on its website of companies that offer sensory equipment and clothing.

Developmental Disability WA (DDWA)
‘Starting Out’, produced by DDWA and Early Childhood Intervention Australia (ECIA), is a guide for families to assist the inclusion of young children with disabilities into community life in WA. It is a comprehensive handbook focusing on inclusion in all aspects of the community.
Flipsnack ECEI Parent Guide

Children and Young People with Disability Australia (CYDA)
Children and Young People with Disability Australia (CYDA) has produced a range of fact sheets on inclusion.
CYDA Fact Sheets

All Means All
All Means All is the Australian Alliance for Inclusive Education, working to implement an inclusive education system and remove the barriers that limit the rights of some students, including students with disabilities, to access full inclusive education in regular classrooms in Australian schools.
All Means All has produced an Inclusion Toolkit to guide parents in supporting their child’s inclusive education journey. You can download it here:
All Means All – For Parents

School Inclusion Parent Network (SIPN)
SIPN is a network of families supporting each other to navigate the school years and promoting inclusive education. SIPN has an active Facebook group that provides information, support, and connection.
All Means All – School Inclusion Parent Network (SIPN)

Developmental Disability WA
Planning Choices
This Handbook is designed for parents of children with disabilities who want to learn how to access an ordinary, typical life for their son or daughter. It looks at understanding your child’s development and helps you plan and make choices with your child to support them to reach their potential.
DDWA Planning and Making Choices

Thinking Ahead
This is a very practical handbook with a wealth of knowledge and tips to help you advocate for your child at school.
DDWA Thinking Ahead

Personal Learning Support Plans Used in Education
This booklet is about Personal Learning Support Plans; this is an umbrella term covering various kinds of plans your child may have at school. For example, an Individual Education Plan (IEP), Behaviour Support Plan, Transition Plan and so on. The booklet explains the benefits of personal support plans, how they are developed and used, and contains examples.
Department of Education – Planning for Personalised Learning & Support

This introductory guide is for parents, family members and carers who are worried about their child’s/family member’s behaviour. Parents can feel under a lot of pressure to ‘solve’ behaviour problems and are naturally very worried about the best approach to take. There are often complex reasons behind a child’s behaviour, and it is rarely anyone’s fault, rather it is difficult to interpret what their behaviour is trying to tell us.
DDWA Your Child’s Challenging Behaviour

Siblings Australia
Siblings Australia works to improve the support available for siblings (brothers and sisters) of children and adults with chronic conditions including disability, chronic illness, and mental health issues. Their website contains information about sibling support – services, resources, research and policy for siblings, parents, workers, and researchers. Siblings Australia also runs workshops and has a Facebook page and a closed Facebook group.
Siblings Australia

Relationships WA
Relationships WA runs a free Family Mental Health Support Service called 4families that provides support for families and carers (including grandparents). 4families operates in areas across the southwest, linking families to a variety of
services to reduce family stress and enable children and young people to reach their full potential.
Relationships WA

Local Community Directory
One of the best sources of information for families is their local Community Directory. You can find out about all kinds of services, facilities, and groups in your local government area. For example, you can use a search function to find up to date information on playgrounds, playgroups, childcare centres, schools, parent groups, sporting clubs, counselling services and much more.
My Community Directory