Members

Dancing to a different beat

Members of the Active Eight community may face additional challenges in life but we’re constantly awed by the joy and strength they display.

Many of our members live with conditions such as

We provide therapy that not only encourages physical, social, and emotional development but also touches the heart and imagination of each of our members to enrich their life experience. 

Do you have an NDIS plan, Medicare Allied Health Care Plan or Private Health Insurance? Many of our members are NDIS participants so we’re used to helping you get the most from your funding.

A developmental roadmap can help guide you through these early years of a child’s life, as a week-to-week style timetable, or a loosely followed guideline.  We can help you monitor your child’s progress, keep an eye out for red flags, and offer strong, evidence-based information that can be tough to find on Google. 

Topics include:

• Parental nutrition during pregnancy.

• Gestational Diabetes Mellitus, and how to navigate it.

• What to do if breastfeeding is challenging.

• Physical and sensory milestones.

• Length and weight growth expectations.

• Navigating constipation and diarrhoea.

• Infant handling techniques

• Postural development

• Gross and fine motor development

• Developmental play skills 

• Transitioning to solid foods, when and how.

• Navigating food allergies and intolerances.

• Postural and skill development for self-feeding

• Problem feeder red flags, and what to do.

ASD symptoms usually start in infancy but may not be noticed until the age of 2 or 3. Challenges or behaviours that may be noted in children with ASD include:

• Repetitive motions such as hand flapping

• A lack of eye contact and interest in social interactions and engagement

• Sensory processing difficulties

• Dyspraxia (difficulty coordinating movements)

• Aggression directed at themselves or others

• Difficulty maintaining eye contact.

Early intervention makes a big difference to children with ASD. The sooner they’re diagnosed, the sooner they can access support to strengthen their communication skills, social skills and other life skills. 

Therapy for ASD depends on exactly how the condition affects each child. It may include:

• Speech therapy

• Occupational therapy

• Psychology

You can come to Active Eight for all of these therapy options, as well as further support such as dietetics and TheraYoga.

The symptoms of Cerebral Palsy include:

• Difficulty coordinating muscle movements

• Stiff, floppy limbs

• Struggling to balance

• Muscle weakness

• Difficulty talking, eating or swallowing if the facial muscles are affected.

There are four main types of cerebral palsy:

• Spastic: muscles are stiff and movement is difficult. 

• Dyskinetic: uncontrollable muscle movements and ‘frozen’ muscles in certain positions due to muscles contracting and relaxing involuntarily. 

• Ataxic: jerky and clumsy movements occur as the brain struggles to coordinate limbs and balance. This can make walking difficult.

• Mixed: This involves a range of symptoms from the types listed above.

The right support makes a big difference. Treatment for cerebral palsy may include: 

• Physiotherapy to develop strength, flexibility, balance, coordination and mobility 

• Occupational therapy to help your child gain independence

• Speech and language therapy to strengthen communication skills and address any difficulties with eating or swallowing

• Recreational therapy – a bit of fun in life such as dance, cheer leading or music.

Developmental Delay

Not all kids hit their milestones on time. Parents, healthcare professionals or childcare workers may become concerned about developmental delay if a child isn’t gaining motor skills (walking, standing, using cutlery, drawing etc), social skills or communication skills in line with other children of the same age. 

Development can be delayed for many reasons including premature birth, genetic conditions like Down syndrome, or stress and upheaval in the family. Sometimes, there’s no known cause for developmental delay. 

Support for children with developmental delay may involve: 

• An assessment for underlying conditions that could contribute to developmental delay

• Targeted therapy to help your child develop at their own pace or to catch up to their peers. 

Some children need only short-term interventions to help them get back on track. Others may need long-term support throughout their childhood to help them acquire skills and gain more independence.

Active Eight provides a range of therapies and programs to support children with developmental delay.

Down Syndrome

Down Syndrome is a genetic condition where people are born with an extra copy of chromosome 21 in their cells. 

The signs and challenges that may be experienced when a child has Down syndrome are:

• Difficulties with vision and hearing

• Difficulties with speech and speech impairments

• Learning disabilities and developmental delay

• Higher chances of health problems such as hypothyroidism

• An increased risk of depression

• Physical attributes such as a short stature and flattened facial features

• Impaired long and short term memory.

Active Eight members with Down syndrome benefit from a range of fun and helpful therapies, including speech therapy, occupational therapy, counselling and dance therapy! 

Need support for Down syndrome?