Addressing sleep disturbance in young children with developmental delay
Annie O'Connell
Adequate sleep is essential for all children's health and development. Children with developmental delay experience additional challenges in their daily lives when their sleep is disturbed. Parents and carers may experience emotional and physical stress as a result of their child's sleep disturbed nights. In 2004, Early Childhood Program (ECP), Disability South Australia, in response to this identified need, developed the Sleepwise approach. Apex Foundation for Research into Intellectual Disability Limited awarded a one-year grant to this Program in 2005 to further develop the Sleepwise approach. The grant was used to conduct and evaluate the Sleepwise workshops for parents and carers across the metropolitan regions. This article will overview the Sleepwise approach and the results of the evaluation.
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