Marymead Disability Support (MDS)
About This Program
The Disability Support program provides flexible care and support for young people and families with complex care needs due to disability, which may also include child protection issues.
How We Work / Who Can Use This Program
MDS offers a broad range of services to children and families including residential housing, respite care, in home support, sport and recreational activities and educational programs. These services may be extended to young people for their period of transition into adulthood ie into their twenties. MDS prides itself on a history of quality service, which results in ease of mind with parents and young people. MDS recognises the uniqueness of families and each member and strives to support families through counselling, clear communication and regular parent/staff meetings and joint problem solving.
Kids’ Companions Program
This program matches a volunteer with young people affected by disability for recreational and social activities. It also facilitates fortnightly boys’ and girls’ groups with the support of committed volunteers.
Kids’ Companions also runs regular school holiday programs that provide individual and group respite, and school holiday activities for children with the help of volunteers.
Individual Education Program
This program provides individual programs for young people from the Black Mountain School to complement their in-school education goals. The program focuses on particular skill development guided by young person’s education plan and includes life skills as well as pre-employment skills and work readiness.
Wheelie Fun After School and Holiday Program
This program is an after school and school holiday program at the Black Mountain School for young people who use wheelchairs. The funding for this program was received from FaHCSIA in recognition that young people using wheelchairs had difficulty accessing existing services because of their high support needs. The highest demand for this Program is during the school holidays.
Residential and Respite programs
All of the young people in these programs have significant disabilities and challenging behaviours.
Residential
The program includes daily living skills, outings in the community and recreational activities. Weekend activities are tailored to each young person’s needs and interests.
Respite
The program offers long and short term respite or emergency residential services for young people. In-home or community based activities are also provided. The service aims to form partnerships with families to provide the service which best meets each individual families needs.
If you want to use the service, parents and professionals may contact us directly about this program.
Funding Bodies
The Marymead Disability Support (MDS) Program receives funding from a variety of sources:
- ACT Department of Disability, Housing and Community Services
- ACT Department of Education and Training
- ACT Health
- Australian Government Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA)
- Carers’ Association
- Disability ACT
- Home and Community Care (HACC)
- IMB Community Foundation
- NSW Department of Ageing, Disability and Home Care
