You and your kids have the right to feel included at home and in your community.
If your kids or family member have a disability, or additional needs, you might be looking for some support to help you.
When a child or family member is seeking diagnosis or diagnosed, it’s ok to have a range of feelings like sadness, grief, frustration, or validation and relief. You might be feeling overwhelmed by too much information and not know where to go or what to do next.
You might have lots of questions too, like how will this affect our family life, how will I still work, what does this mean for school and play, and what will our family future look like?
It’s ok to ask all these questions, and more.
It’s important to know that there are many types of supports out there for your child and family. So, if you are facing a new diagnosis, are looking for extra support as your child grows or if you want to support a family member or friend, there is lots of information, services, and support groups to help you guide through.
Information for you
Raising Children Network provides ad-free parenting videos, articles and apps backed by Australian experts
Free, reliable, up-to-date and independent information to help you and your family grow and thrive together, including:
Information on South Australian disability services, education, employment and recreation.
The Disability Gateway have information and services to help people with disability, their family, friends and carers, to find the support they need in Australia.
Department of Human Services (DHS) has developed an inclusive smartphone app that provides a directory of inclusive and accessible venues and facilities across the state, and allows users to find, rate and review their experiences.
Download Pavely from Google Play or the Apple app store.
The Families Growing Together program offers parents and carers a range of face-to-face workshops and online webinars to suit their parenting needs.
For Aboriginal families and communities, a co-design process is used to tailor the workshops.
- My Child and Me – a two-part workshop for parents of children aged 2–12 years
- Living with Young People – a two-part workshop for parents of children aged 12–18 years
- Growing and learning in the family — a two-part workshop to support parents to connect with their child through play
- Coping Skills – a two-part workshop exploring stress and resilience
Delivered in a relaxed and informal style, these workshops and webinars offer parents helpful information and a choice of simple, practical strategies based on the latest parenting research and using information from Parenting SA.
Workshops and webinars are all live and free and are designed to be interactive with videos, activities and time for parents to discuss information together in small groups or through the chat function.
Parenting SA provides free information for parents and carers.
The ‘Children with a Disability’ Parent Easy Guide talks about feelings, your needs and rights, relationships, learning and much more.
Other useful guides
Services for you
Children's centres for early childhood development, and parenting and children and family centres bring together care, education, health, community development activities and family services for families and their young children. They provide a range of services that support preschool children with disabilities and additional needs according to eligibility criteria.
The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) funds disability services, giving people living with a disability the choice and control over who provides their services.
Contact the NDIS or its Local Area Co-ordinators (LACs) who have offices servicing South Australia.
Phone 1800 800 110
Help for Children younger than 7: The early childhood approach | NDIS
To find out about emergency respite care in your area, contact the Carer Gateway on 1800 422 737. Emergency respite is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Support is available for preschool children with disability. Preschools, kindergartens, children’s centres, and early learning centres all provide preschool services.
Information is available on topics including:
Children with special needs or a disability might be eligible for additional support at primary and high school through a range of internal and external options. A referral from the student’s current school is required before special education options can be explored. Discuss the learning needs of the student with your current school.
Visit the Education website further information about the support available at school for children with a disability and the Special Education Resource Unit.
Anglicare SA offer a wide range of services to help your child live life to the fullest.
Whether it’s learning new skills or making new friends, our specialist staff encourage children and young people to interact in a warm, safe and social environment.
They also support you and your family in your own home, or through overnight and day respite options.
Call 1800 953 001.
MyTime provide free support for parents of children with disabilities. Meet other parents and family carers of children with disabilities. MyTime is a place to socialise, to discuss, to get information, and to support and be supported by other carers.
Advocacy for Disability Access and Inclusion provides advocacy services for people with disabilities and their families and carers across South Australia.
149 Currie Street Adelaide
Freecall 1800 856 464
Email contact:admin@advocacyfordisability.org.au
Uniting Communities Disability Advocacy Services can provide individual advocacy services for people with disability who require support in navigating the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), general support in understanding their rights and resolving issues through legal representation.
43 Franklin Street, Adelaide
Phone 8202 5960
Email das@unitingcommunities.org
Disability Information and Legal Assistance Unit (DiLA) is an information and advisory service unit of the Legal Services Commission. Staff who have received training on disability inclusion and disability rights are available on weekdays, between 9am - 4:30pm.
DiLA does not provide legal advice on NDIS matters or Centrelink appeals, but there are other lawyers at the Legal Services Commission who can help with these matters.
Call 1300 366 424 between 9am – 4.30pm, Monday to Friday.
A ‘Legal Chat’ service is also available on the Legal Services Commission SA website during business hours.
Someone to talk to
The Disability Gateway will assist all people with disability, their families and carers to locate and access services across Australia.
Phone 1800643787 Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pm AEDT
Autism Connect is a free, national autism helpline, providing independent and expert information over phone, email and webchat.
Phone 1300 308 699
Open Monday to Friday from 8.00 am to 7.00 pm
If life is in danger, phone 000 (triple zero)
eheadspace provides free online and telephone support and counselling to young people 12 to 25 and their families and friends.
Phone 1800 650 890, every day from 9.00 am to 1.00 am AEST
Lifeline provides counselling for lots of different issues and referrals to services in your local community. Mobile phone calls are free. Online chat is available.
Phone 13 11 14 (24-hour service)
Text Lifeline (12 noon to 12 midnight)
Lifeline Online Chat (7.00 pm to 12 midnight)
If life is in danger, phone 000 (triple zero)
PANDA (Perinatal Anxiety and Depression Australia) supports women, men and families across Australia affected by anxiety and depression during pregnancy and in the first year of parenthood.
Phone 1300 726 306, Monday to Friday, 9.00 am to 7:30 pm AEST
ASK was built for you so we welcome your feedback and suggestions. Use the contact us form to let us know of new services or changes. Services can also request to be added to the ASK Service Directory, or have their listing updated.