Every child develops differently. Many meet their developmental milestones; some don’t. A 2015 Ontario report[1] found one in nine kids has a disability or developmental need; it’s one in eight if you follow the latest US Centre for Disease Control data.
Ontario’s robust network of highly specialized organizations staffed by Regulated Health and other professionals provides pediatric expertise when families have concerns about their child’s development–care they cannot get anywhere else, all under one roof in communities across the province. Each team is part of the continuum of healthcare together with community pediatricians and pediatric hospitals.
More than 200,000 Ontario kids and youth are supported by this network of community-based pediatric healthcare partners.
When kids miss out on critical support, their needs tend to become more complex, requiring more treatment over a longer period, or are never resolved. The longer term can be harder academically, behaviourally, socially, and developmentally.
The good news is treatment in a timely way is often the least costly and gives the greatest impact. Pediatric surgeries for example, need to align with developmental milestones or occur early enough in a child’s life to prevent complications and optimize outcomes. If a child with mobility challenges can get physiotherapy as a toddler, they could become more mobile and have increased independence by the time they’re old enough to go to school.
Many challenges that kids face can be managed – and managing them early in a child’s development is key to managing them successfully.
Sooner is always better.
We know there are windows of opportunity that can change the trajectory of a child’s life. Setting a child up for success is not just about addressing immediate concerns, it’s about laying a strong foundation for their future well-being.
There’s an economic return too, that has to do not just with impacting the cost to raise a child with disabilities, which studies find is four times the cost to raise and educate a child without disabilities.
There is a better chance that kids who receive early intervention will be productive and integrated adults in society. Just two years ago, the employment rate for those with disabilities was 65 per cent compared to 80 per cent for those without disabilities.
A child’s developmental health has a direct impact on their health and well-being throughout life.
[1] Every Ninth Child in Ontario: a cost benefit analysis for investing in the care of special needs children and youth in Ontario; 2015; John Stapleton, Open Policy Ontario; Brendan Pooran and Rene Doucet, Chronicle Analysis; Alexa Briggs & Cecilia R. Lee, Community Matters Consulting
