An Australian official from the country’s Disability Services Commission will visit Siskin Children’s Institute Friday to learn about the organization’s research on early childhood development and special education.
Denise Luscombe, a pediatric physiotherapist and senior project officer with the Commission in Perth, Western Australia, is touring the United States and the United Kingdom through October and November to study early childhood intervention services that focus on interactions between the parent and child, goals of the family, strengths and interests of the child and family, and normal everyday activities — a focus that research has shown to have the best outcomes for children. She will use this experience to help determine how early interventionists in Western Australia can convert the theory into practice there.
Australia has already adopted strategies influenced by Robin McWilliam, Ph.D., the Institute’s director of research. His strategy focuses on providing early childhood intervention within natural learning environments. Ms. Luscombe will receive more information about this strategy during her visit.
During her visit, Ms. Luscombe will also discuss how the country is implementing these strategies. She will present “Team Around the Child: the Use of Recommended Practices in Early Intervention in Western Australia.”
For more information about Dr. McWilliam and the Siskin Center for Child and Family Research, visit www.siskin.org.