What is a Developmental Educator?

Developmental Educators (DEs) are qualified professionals who are registered with Developmental Educators Australia Inc (DEAI) and recognised by the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) as disability specific experts.

They provide holistic support to people with disabilities and their families to achieve a high quality of life whether it be through skill development or creating inclusive and accessible opportunities. DEs use key principles in their therapy approach:

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  • DEs consider all the elements of a person’s life to identify environmental barriers and opportunities for development.

  • By using their knowledge on disability laws and policies, DEs empower various stakeholders to provide opportunities that promote inclusiveness and accessibility for the disability community.

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  • Therapeutic services focus on a person’s skills, strengths and interests. DEs prioritise the values, preferences and needs of a person and their family in order to help them reach their goals.

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  • By working closely with other professional service providers and organisations, DEs can ensure that intervention strategies are consistent and relevant to the person’s goals.

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  • Because every person and their family has unique experiences and circumstances, DEs incorporate a personalised approach to intervention strategies.

  • Promoting self-advocacy skills helps empower people with disabilities and their families to campaign for community participation and autonomy.

Visit The Spectrum for more information on how developmental educators support the disability community