New Wollongong institute offers world-class therapies for kids with autism

The Child Development Institute has launched in the Illawarra, giving children in the region living with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and their families much-needed access to world-class therapies.

The Child Development Institute

• Aged care lockdown after four flu deaths
• Children hurt in tractor-towed wagon turnover

In the past eight weeks, three-year-old Samson Howari has started to make eye contact with his mum, play with toys and read books with his family.

While these may sound like ordinary, ever-day things for a toddler, it’s a huge step for Samson, and one that’s brought huge smiles and feelings of hope for his family.

Last year, Samson was diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, global development delay, severe speech and language disorder, sensory processing disorder and emotional disregulation, which put huge stress on his mum Leanne, who just wanted her son to live the most normal life as possible.

“It is so isolating to be a parent to a child like my Samson,” she said. “You feel very alone because you don’t know who to turn to, you can’t do normal activities with them and it’s really difficult to get help.”

But eight weeks ago, Samson started seeing specialists from the Illawarra’s brand new Child Development Institute, which gives Illawarra children living with autism and their families vital access to world-class therapies.

Leanne Howari and her son Samson.

In those short few weeks, Leanne has already seen huge changes in her little boy.

“I finished a session with him the other day and he walked over held out his arms, looked at me and said ‘cuddle’,” she said.

“I don’t hear my son speak in sentences and to hear him communicate with me like that was a pretty wonderful moment.”

The Child Development Institute follows the Early Start Denver Model (ESDM), a play-based therapy for children aged between 12 months and five years, aimed at reducing the symptoms of autism.

The institute is very close to CEO Nadene Anderson’s heart, as autism is something she, and her family are very passionate about.

At 37-years-old, her brother Greg was diagnosed with autism, there was no early intervention, and her parents had no support.

“There are many families that don’t need to suffer what we went through now because of programs like this,” she said.

“The institute can make a huge difference not just for the children but also their families as it allows them to promote the child’s development.”

Child Development Institute Clinical Director and Certified ESDM Trainer Elizabeth

Aylward said the teaching principles of the ESDM model can be applied to many settings

including the home, group programs, clinics, and community settings, via a range of

professional development programs.

Samson Howari with his older sister Laila.

“Early detection of developmental difficulties facilitates access to early intervention,” she said.

“If this early intervention is also evidence-based and intensive, it increases the child’s chances of greatly improved development and successful inclusion.”

Leanne said her five-year-old daughter Laila was picking up techniques taught at the institute to communicate with her brother at home.

“They haven’t really interacted before but they are sitting down and doing activities together,” she said.

“Laila has learnt a goodbye song they taught us at the institute and she sings it to him and waves as he goes somewhere. It’s really special.”

As well as offering sessions for children with autism, the Child Development Institute is also offering programs for parents and educators — to help them support children at home, or in early childhood centres.

IN OTHER NEWS