Children's disability services are for children and young people up to 18 years.
Your child's needs may be met at your local health centre. For example, if they have a speech delay your local speech and language therapist can help.
But sometimes your child may need to see a children's disability network team (CDNT).
What is a children's disability network team?
A children’s disability network team (CDNT) provides specialised support and services for children who have a disability and complex health needs associated with their disability.
The CDNT supports a child’s development, wellbeing and participation in family and community life. This works best when everyone works together as a team around your child.
The team members share their knowledge, information and skills with you and your family so you can support your child’s development.
This helps children and young people to develop, learn, and take part in everyday activities. Team members can meet children and families in their home, in school or in our office.
CDNT members
This CDNT includes health and social care professionals. They provide services for children with disabilities. Each team member specialises in different areas of child development.
Who your child sees and how often they see them will depend on your child's needs. The team will discuss this with you.
Their aim is to support your child to thrive, grow, and learn.
They will also help your family to learn how to best support your child.
All CDNTs have:
Teams also have access to:
- dietitians
- family support workers
- nurses
- social care workers
How CDNTs work
CDNT members may work with your child together or separately depending on your child’s needs and the priorities agreed with you. This approach to team working is in line with evidence from international best practice.
The team offers a wide range of supports and services. This may include individual and group therapy, parent education about special needs, support for a child’s full participation in pre-school and school and advice on financial entitlements, housing and transport.
Individual Family Support Plan
Your family and the team will agree on a plan for your child. This is called an Individual Family Support Plan. It is based on your family's needs.
Together you will:
- talk about the issues in your family
- talk about how to goals that could address these issues
- write the Individual Family Support Plan together
- talk about how you will achieve these goals - what to do, how to do it, and who will do it
Types of support available
Your family can work together with the CDNT team as equal partners.
The team can do this through:
- information sessions, talks and workshops
- group work
- one-to-one therapy
They match the best type of help with the type of problem your family wants to address. The team may need to try a few different approaches to get the best results.
Information sessions, talks and workshops
Information sessions, talks and workshops for families can cover:
- how to help your child sleep through the night
- toilet training for children who have extra needs
- supporting your child to develop their language and communication
- how to prepare your child for the move from primary to secondary school
- how to help your child play with other children and develop friendships
Group work
Group work is for children who have similar needs. Bringing children together in groups is more fun for them and they can learn from each other.
It also brings together parents who have common challenges. This gives you a chance to meet other parents, and share your ideas and experiences.
Examples of group work include:
- Hanen programmes for developing communication
- Triple P Positive Parenting Programmes
- Family Lámh Course
One-to-one therapy
These are interventions that address your child’s individual needs. Your child may have difficulties with movement, communicating, feeding, eating, drinking, or swallowing.
Difficulties with movement
If your child has difficulties with their movement or posture, they will get an assessment by a physiotherapist or an occupational therapist.
Your family and the therapists will agree on a plan. This could include treatment or equipment.
Some children may need a specialised service. This could include a review by an orthopaedic doctor. This is a doctor who specialises in muscles, bones and joints.
Difficulties with feeding, eating, drinking and swallowing
There may be many reasons why this is an issue for your child. A full assessment may include help from several healthcare professionals.
You will need to bring your own food and drink from home so the team can assess what your child eats and drinks.
After the assessment, your family and the team will agree on a plan.
Difficulties with communication
Your child will see a speech and language therapist.
Translated children's disability network information
We have leaflets on children's disability services. It is available in 15 languages.
Find this information in other languages
Irish: Foirne Líonra Míchumais Leanaí (PDF, 112 KB, 2 pages)
Finnish: Lasten Vammaisverkoston Valjakot (PDF, 117 KB, 2 pages)
French: Équipes réseau sur le handicap des enfants (PDF, 123 KB, 2 pages)
Lithuanian: Vaikų neįgalumo tinklo darbo grupės (PDF, 113 KB, 2 pages)
Polish: Sieć Zespołów Wsparcia Dziecka z Niepełnosprawnością (PDF, 143 KB, 2 pages)
Portuguese (Brazil): Equipes da Rede de Deficiência Infantil (PDF, 110 KB, 2 pages)
Romanian: Echipele din rețeaua pentru copiii cu dizabilități (PDF, 138 KB, 2 pages)
Russian: Команды Специалистов Сети Поддержки для Детей-Инвалидов (PDF, 149 KB, 2 pages)