Justin’s story is one of many I have experienced as a child psychiatrist. Justin’s start in life was less than ideal. His mum left an abusive relationship, they didn’t have stable housing. They lived in poverty; Justin and his mum were socially isolated.
By the time he was ready for school, he had a significant developmental delay. Justin wasn’t speaking at the right level for his age, and he exhibited a lot of disruptive behaviours. As a young boy he was severely bullied, and as he grew bigger and stronger – he became the bully. By 13, he was disengaged from school. He was diagnosed with autism and had started to harm himself.
Finally, he was referred to me for help. However, by 13, intensive interventions were needed to change the course of Justin’s life. Early intervention, when the brain is most amenable to change, could have prevented his many years of difficulties.
But it doesn’t have to be like this. We have developed an early intervention program to identify developmental delays and disorders like ADHD and Autism and ensure timely and appropriate interventions so children like Justin have a better future.
that became a catalyst for radical health improvements locally, nationally and around the world.
Will you help ensure the benefits of vital medical research reaches everyone, everywhere, regardless of culture, location or income?
Our research has shown an “inverse care law” in which children from the most disadvantaged backgrounds with the highest risk of ADHD and Autism are the least likely to receive the interventional care they need when they need it. Children from multicultural communities in South Western Sydney experience challenges in accessing health and developmental checks early. They often present late and hence miss valuable opportunities for early intervention for autism, ADHD et cetera.
Our program via the Ingham Institute is identifying and supporting these children early in South Western Sydney. And around the world. One of the keys to early intervention is monitoring the development of babies and young children throughout their early years. The Watch Me Grow app provides parents with an easy-to-use digital tool to identify any developmental delays in their child as early as possible. And it ensures that appropriate services and supports are made available to the children and their families when they are most effective.
When you support Ingham Institute’s research, you are changing children’s lives. Every dollar invested now in a pre-school child’s development saves $13 in costly high-intervention programs and crisis services for young people, a cost many cannot afford. It could be your daughter or granddaughter that our research and care help.
Every dollar invested now in a pre-school child’s development saves $13 in costly high-intervention programs and crisis services for young people, a cost many cannot afford. It could be your daughter or granddaughter that our research and care help.
It could be your daughter or granddaughter that our research and care help.
Please join us to inspire health and transform the treatment and care of people living with the most prevalent medical conditions and diseases.
