Advocacy for Inclusion

"providing individual and systemic advocacy to improve life for people who have a disability"

Information Sheet

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Support for Families

Supports that are available for parents and families of children who have a disability

Having a child who has a disability may affect the whole family. Some common effects include:

• Pressure placed on parents' relationship due to stress.
• Mothers often provide most of the care.
• Fathers can feel left out. They may miss out on support groups because they are at work.
• Other children become resentful because they get less attention.

There are many ways to help you look after yourself and your family such as:

• Get out of the house regularly
• Have a break - get help from friends, family or respite care
• Seek counselling for you and your partner if your relationship is stressed
• Give other children time alone with you.

Your doctor can help

Your local doctor can offer:

• Advice and support
• Referral to specialists and therapists
• Help in emergencies
• Help to look after you and your child
• Letters of support for equipment, services and submissions.

Support groups and friends

A network of support groups and friends can be very helpful. They can help you:

• Learn a range of practical skills to help your child
• Find and use the complex service system
• Overcome any problems you encounter with these services
• Discover that being different can bring its own joys and rewards.

Things to Remember

• It is OK to ask for help.
• Your whole family may need support, not just your child who has a disability.
• Friends, family and support groups are important but remember that respite and advocacy can be there for you when you need it.

Where to get help

• Parent self-help groups –
  • SHOUT (Self-Help Organisations United Together) Ph: 6290 1984
  • ACT Autism Association Ph: 6290 1984
  • ACT Down Syndrome Association Ph: 6290 0656
  • Cerebral Palsy Support Group Ph: 6231 6488
  • Client Guardian Forum Ph: 6286 8256
  • Deaf Children’s Association (Suzi Momi) Ph: 6287 4393
  • Early Childhood Intervention Association Ph: 6290 1984
• Parent Link - ParentLink is a service especially for parents, which recognises and values the parenting role. It is designed to increase parents' confidence and skills by supporting and linking them with a network of information, ideas and community services.
  Ph: 6207 1039
• Therapy ACT - provides a range of multidisciplinary therapy and support services for people who have delays in development and developmental disabilities, aged from birth to 65 years of age. Therapy and support services are available in physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech pathology, social work and psychology. There is no fee for this service.
  Ph: 6205 1246

Respite

• What is it?
  Respite provides families/carers with a temporary break from caring for an individual who has a disability. Many families consider respite care to be the most important source of support in sustaining the family unit. Respite gives carers and families a break from their daily routine, the opportunity to relax, revitalise and build up the personal resources necessary to resume their caring role. Respite can also provide positive outcomes for the person who has a disability by providing different experiences and the opportunity to develop new contacts and a broader range of friendships.
• Who can you go to?
  • FaBRiC Inc - Ph: 6287 2870
  • Carers ACT - Ph: 6296 9900
  • Respite Care ACT Inc - Ph: 6288 0955

Advocacy

• What is it?
  Advocacy is acting with or behalf of people or assisting people to act on their own behalf, free of conflicts of interest and motivated by a desire to obtain a fair and just outcome for the individual or group concerned. Advocacy can be provided on an individual basis or for a group who share the same values and goals. Advocates can also act to influence systemic change (e.g. to government policies, agency practices and societal structures). An advocate will stand beside you and can provide information, education and representation to promote the rights, dignity and inclusion of all people who have a disability.
• Who can you go to?
  • Advocacy for Inclusion Inc - ph: 6286 9422
  • ADACAS (ACT Disability Aged & Carer Advocacy Service) - ph: 6242 5060

Do you need more information or can we assist you?
Please contact Advocacy for Inclusion on 6286 9422.

Source:
Canberra self-help groups, respite services and advocacy agencies.
Better Health Channel Victoria - http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/
Intellectual Disability Services Council South Australia - http://www.idsc.sa.gov.au/publications/infosheet/

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"working with people who have a disability, families, friends and others for a more inclusive society"