Therapy is strokes ahead

By Sarah Schwager
Hampton Park’s Tania Sacco says without adequate government funding, parents must raise the money themselves to find suitable activities and treatments for their children.
Her daughter Claudia, 5, has moderate to severe autism.
Thanks to donations from the community, Claudia was able to take up some programs that have helped her become a happier and more adjusted child.
Last year she started a music therapy program called Tomatis which helps autistic children relate better to the world around them.
“The program has completely changed her,” Mrs Sacco said.
“In January last year she didn’t understand a word said.
“Now, 18 months later, she is stringing sentences together.”
She says the program, which costs $5000 a year, is cheaper than other early intervention therapies.
Mrs Sacco said she wanted to enrol Claudia in Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA), a home-based therapy program which costs $30,000 a year, but was unable to afford it.
This year, Claudia began private swimming lessons at Paul Sadler Swimland in Hampton Park.
“The lessons not only act as a facility to learn to swim but also as intensive one-on-one therapy for other problems that my daughter faces,” Mrs Sacco said.
“She is learning to move confidently in the water and be able to pick up things with both hands, to be able to distinguish colours and follow instructions.”
Mrs Sacco said at the same time, Claudia’s fitness level and other physical problems were also improving.
“I call my daughter’s teacher ‘her Angel with water wings’ for Willy is truly that,” she said.
“For anyone that has a child with disability I would strongly suggest swimming lessons.”
Mrs Sacco said until disability services were recognised by the government, they would have to continue fundraising to keep Claudia in her music program and private swimming lessons.
Last week, disability groups from across Victoria met to form the Coalition for Disability Rights and launch a public campaign over the lack in funding and services.
Coalition for Disability Rights spokeswoman Sue Jackson said all the part-icipants in the coalition were united in their concern about what she said was a shameful shortage of disability services.
“Thousands of families are struggling every day because of the lack of government funding and support for accommodation services, for vital equipment, for respite care and for early intervention services for children,” Ms Jackson said.
For information on the Paul Sadler Swimland Centre call 9337 2666 or log onto www.paulsadlerswimland.com.