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Equipment to Support Learning and Development

This is something a parent might not think about. Some children with Global Developmental Delay can benefit from equipment to help with their learning and development. This equipment is Assistive Technology (AT) and could be included in a NDIS plan to help a child achieve their goals.

(Adapted from https://www.ndis.gov.au/participants/assistive-technology-explained )

Assistive technology

  • is equipment or devices that help your child do things they cannot do or need help with because of their developmental delay / disability.
  • It may also help a child do something more easily or safely. 
  • It can improve a child’s participation and engagement in age-appropriate activities e.g. riding a bike. 
  • It can also mean that a child does an activity in a way that helps to maintain correct future physical growth and development.

Some examples of Assistive Technology are a: 

  1. communication device to help you child’s speech and language skills, 
  2. suitable highchair to meet a child’s needs, 
  3. modified chair for seating, 
  4. wheelchair,
  5. bath/shower chair,
  6. standing frame or a walker, 
  7. modified stroller/pram.
Support Learning and Development

Every child and every family is different. Your feelings as you take the journey from noticing your child may have a delay, to diagnosis, and beyond may also be different from that of other parents. There is no right or wrong way to feel.

An example of how a piece of equipment supports a child to learn and develop:

An Occupational Therapist might suggest that your child needs to have a particular style of highchair that supports your child’s body’s individual needs. A suitable highchair 

  • not only helps with a child’s posture, 
  • but it also helps them to be fed safely and 
  • to strengthen their trunk muscles. 

When sitting in a suitable chair a child will become less tired because the chair gives the right support. They can then learn to sit for a longer time. 

It can also be used to support a child’s ability to play. A child who is able to sit in a stable position will be more motivated to learn how to reach out and play with toys. This then allows them to build their eye-hand coordination and hand skills. 

A chair also allows the parent/carer to be sitting in front and facing the child to play / or feed them, rather than having to focus on supporting them to be sitting upright. This creates the ideal position for the parent so they can more readily interact, play and talk with their child. 

Poor posture and sitting, standing and playing in poor positions can prevent normal muscle and bone development especially as children grow so fast.

If you feel distressed thinking and reading about this topic,
talk to your GP or health professional. You can also call Lifeline on 131 114.