About us
CliniKids is a not-for-profit centre integrating world-class research with a clinical service for children with developmental delay and/or an autism diagnosis, and their families. It is the first of its kind for autism in Australia.
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CliniKids is a not-for-profit centre integrating world-class research with a clinical service for children with developmental delay and/or an autism diagnosis, and their families. It is the first of its kind for autism in Australia.
CliniKids provides therapy support and individualised programs to help children and families to reach their full potential.
One of the unique aspects of CliniKids is the integration of clinical services with cutting-edge research. Our exceptional team of researchers work in collaboration with our clinicians to give the community access to the world's best evidence-based therapies.
Here you'll find a wealth of information and resources to help support your child.
Neurodiversity refers to the different ways that people experience and interact with the world around them. Each person’s brain works differently, meaning no two brains are the same. Neurodiversity acknowledges that these differences are what make us human. The neurodiversity movement emerged in the 1990s and the term was initially coined by Judy Singer, an autistic sociologist from Australia.
Neurodiversity acknowledges that all brains work differently and that there is no “right” way of thinking, learning, behaving, and interacting with the world. In the context of neurodiversity, brain-based and behavioural differences observed in autistic or other neurodivergent children are seen to reflect natural human variation. Neurodiversity is a fact of life – it is a biological fact that we are all diverse in our gender, cultures, and sexuality, and naturally our brains are no different.
The neurodiversity movement celebrates differences in neurology, identifying this broad group of people with neurological differences as “neurodivergent”. When the term was first created, it often referred to individuals with differences in brain wiring that are present from birth (developmental). This could include autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, intellectual disability, or dyslexia to name a few. Some members of the neurodiversity movement also acknowledge people who have acquired brain differences as neurodivergent. This may include an acquired brain injury, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, and other mental health challenges.
These differences in brain neurology are not considered problems by the neurodiversity movement. Instead, neurodivergent people are accepted, included, celebrated, and embraced in the same way that neurotypical people are.
The neurodiversity movement aims to highlight neurodivergent people’s strengths and unique gifts that they bring to the world, while also acknowledging the daily challenges they face. For example, some autistic individuals have a way with numbers, or incredible memory for dates or significant events. Other individuals may have strengths in drawing, reading, or an impressive vocabulary for their age.
At CliniKids, we aim to support children and families using neuroaffirming principles and believe each child has their own unique strengths, passions, and preferences.