The First Step
The first step for a parent who is interested in commencing
a home-based program is to read the book "Rescuing Brain
Injured Children" by Keith Pennock (this book can be purchased
by contacting us).
"Rescuing Brain Injured Children" documents Keith's
work through the years of working with his own daughter, Alison,
to his directing of the British Institute for Brain Injured
Children and his work with Brain-Net. It explains how and why
brain injury can be treated by outlining the specialised techniques
and theories that Brain-Net and the Australian Institute use
to help improve the development of brain injured children.
"Every family with a brain injured child should
read this book" - John Cleese
"At last! - A book which destroys the myth that
brain injurd children cannot develop" - Ann
Diamond
After this, any family requesting to have their child on
a program is forwarded an initial evaluation history form
to be filled out and sent back to the institute.
Initial Evaluation (within Australia)
When parents indicate that they wish to have a program set
for their child, an initial evaluation appointment will be
made. This will take place at the home of the child (where
possible), as the environment and security plays a major part
of the child's performance on the day. The initial asessment
will go over three days.
The first day will be spent assessing the child and taking
the development history. The second day will be spent teaching
the family the theory and method of the techniques. On the
third day, the program is then set. The child's program will
be highly specialised to his or her present development and
funcitonal ability. The program is to be carried out daily
by the family and as many friends, neighbors and volunteers
as required.
Parents are encouraged to ask as many questions as needed
over the two-day initial evaluation. As clinicians, we will
not leave until all questions from the family have been answered.
Re-evaluations (within Australia)
After carrying out the full program with the child for five
months (within Australia; six months overseas) a re-evaluation
will take place once again at the home of the child (again,
where possible). When the abilities of the child are thoroughly
evaluated and noted, the program is up-dated in view of the
improvements that have taken place. The parents are then taught
any new techniques relevant to the child's progress at that
time. Re-evaluations are then arranged at five-monthly intervals.
Initial and Re-evaluations (outside Australia)
Initial and re-evaluations outside of Australia are either
conducted in the family's home or in a designated location.
The number of days spent with the families for an initial
and re-evaluation when conducted in a country outside Australia
may vary slightly. Re-evaluations in countries outside of
Australia are conducted every six months. It is a requirement
of the families of these children to submit a monthly report
on their child's progress.
The Institute can only give three reasonable guarantees
to parents:
1. A lot of hard work
2. More positive objective for their child
than that which may have been given in the past.
3. Continuous support for as long as parents
require it.
Contact us for further information:
Phone: +61 3 9787 1246
Email: info@aiahp.org |
Australian
Institute for the Achievement of Human Potential
