Early intervention specialists can be employed in various settings working with infants and toddlers showing signs of various disabilities. Since research has showed that children make the most progress in their natural environment, a high percentage of early intervention specialists works for private agencies and travel to families’ homes. Many early interventionists are employed by preschools and day care centers to quickly address developmental delays at the start of education. Early intervention positions could also be found in elementary schools, community-based education centers, regional reading programs, therapy offices, and medical groups, according to Autism Speaks. 

Duties/Responsibilities:

• Provides individual and group intervention for infants and toddlers from birth to three years old who have developmental delays or who are at risk for delays in the areas of cognitive, adaptive behavior, social-emotional, self-care, fine motor, gross motor, and communication development.

• Assesses family and child strengths/resources, concerns, and progress. Participates in multidisciplinary assessments; selects and administers assessment instruments and procedures appropriately; interprets and reports test results; completes assessment reports and sends to appropriate agency. Functions as coordinator for the assessment team.

• Acts as service coordinator for the family by scheduling, developing, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating the intervention plan for each family on caseload, ensuring that appropriate procedures and timelines are followed. Provides families with information on current trends and practices related to the needs of their child.

• Provides supportive professional assistance to families. Facilitates parent-child interactions to encourage child's development; encourages parents to participate in as normal a lifestyle as possible by developing family strengths and resources; assists families to act as advocates for their child.

• Completes reports, routine documentation, and management procedures as required by agency policies. Provides consultation, training, and screening clinics for outside agencies and interagency groups.

My career and academic pathways have been colorful, just as I like it! I completed a Bachelors in Interdisciplinary Social Science, then went on to pursue a Masters in Speech Language Pathology, but during my post graduate work journey had a change of heart and decided to specialize as an early intervention specialist. A great opportunity presented  for me as an early intervention specialist at the Miami Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired, giving way for a newfound career in early intervention. I gained a wealth of experience and knowledge in child development receiving training from In-home Sensory Impaired Training and Education (INSITE), and Vision Impaired Inservice in America (VIISA). 

Here's an idea of what I did:

• Directed itinerant early intervention multi-sensory stimulation services to visually and multiply impaired children ages birth to 6 

• Organized and conducted assessments and service plan 

• Imparted case management and referral services 

• Reported monthly service units directly to online database

• Handled enforcement of EIPs and IFSPs 

• Provided individualized reports for each child and their family 

• Assessed child and family needs and provide resource and referral services 

• Participated in professional inter-agency meetings within the community

• Applied ABA techniques to help further develop a richer and productive learning experience for children with behavioral concerns

• Prepared and organized weekly playgroups

Eventually, I moved country and joined the Save the Children Australis team as a Family Support Worker and Youth Mentor gaining a wealth of experience and knowledge receiving training in Child Safety, Psychological First Aid for Children, and Positive Parenting Program (Triple P), and the Early Years Learning Framework. After my tenure at Save the Children I began a one-year apprenticeship at Liverpool Physiotherapy where I coached children in physiotherapy and provided TCM remedial massage. 

Where am I now?

I'm currently in Australia providing a range of human healing & development services to people of all ages in this practice I named Integrated Medixine. In the western sense I have a business, but in the spiritual sense I regard my practice as a calling a duty to carry out 'til my time in this form expires.

This service is helpful for caregivers at the initial phase of curiosity regarding their child's development. I'll introduce or re-introduce you to the world of early intervention and better position you to map out a clear course for you and your young one/s.  

You will:

• Learn how to navigate your new normal

• Gain the confidence to navigate difficult conversations

• Gain child development tools that will support you and your child in daily living

• Develop and strengthen your community support system

• Gain a relentless advocate that won't stop 'til your rights are honored

• Learn how to better self-manage during difficult times

No two session are alike! Ideally, a child will receive attention in their natural environment with the practitioner physically present, however in a rapidly changing world this may not be possible. I provide a blend of at-home and online service delivery. Where possible I will do home-visits in Sydney, travel long distance at your expense, otherwise sessions will be conducted online. 

My vision for all my seekers is to need me and others like me as little as possible. If we have an excess of hospitals, physicians, psychiatrists, health and wellness practitioners, that to me, is an indication that illness is thriving over evolution.  For a species to thrive and endure we must get better at treating the source of a problem. We're experts at treating symptoms, but for our sake and the sake of future generation we have to direct our focus to the source of disease.

Sometime between your payment and your initial consultation appointment you would have sent to my end-to-end encrypted email address all relevant information regarding health and wellness records. In your initial consultation with Claudia, an extensive case history will be developed, which is vital for achieving maximum outcomes ensuring Claudia has a full understanding of your wellness history. All information shared with Claudia is strictly confidential, unless you provide consent for the information to be shared. We will organize a customized plan that works in tandem with any other interventions you may have in place. I believe in the power of working in harmony with a transdisciplinary team where applicable.  You are at the intersection of all therapies your child may be receiving, it's absolutely imperative you are diligent and transparent in sharing all relevant information that may influence any therapies! Some sessions may involve the participation of health and wellness providers; this is case dependent. The more your community of health and wellness providers are on the same page, the more effective we can be at delivering maximum outcomes. Help us help you!

• $100 per session (60 mins)

• $150 extended/initial session (1.5hrs)

• $850 for a 10-week package %15 DISCOUNT

• If you have financial difficulties, please email to discuss payment options.

There are three types of support budgets that may be funded in your NDIS plan:

• Core Supports budget

• Capacity Building Supports budget

• Capital Supports budget

NDIS may cover Integrated Medixine services under your core supports budget and capacity building supports budget. Integrated Medixine is a Non-Registered Provider and can only accept participants who are Plan Managed or Self Managed. If you’re Plan Managed, contact your Plan Manager to check your funding for Core and Capacity Building Funding. Our rates are in line with the NDIS Pricing Arrangements (previously called the NDIS Price Guide). 

If you are NDIA managed, you will be required to find an NDIS registered provider. 

If you are unsure what funding is available within your plan, you can access this information through your NDIS portal, or you can contact your Plan Manager directly. 

If you are Plan Managed, please fill out our referral request NDIS support services form.   UPDATE REFERRAL FORM!!!

To learn more visit our NDIS Page.

• Ensure that we have a private, quiet, dedicated place for our meeting

• Make sure that we have all that we need at our fingertips, for example: notes, books, pad, pen, and water

• Reduce distractions where possible; devices irrelevant to the session, members of the household, and any other distractions

• Have had a few minutes to prepare ourselves before meeting, so that we are relaxed and focused; no rushed and scattered thoughts

• Consider this a normal appointment, the same as if visiting a Physician, Specialist, or other healthcare professional in their office. Consider the norms and extend the same courtesy to me.