F.A.Q.
What is AIDP?
Aboriginal Infant Development Programs in BC offer support to the families of infants who are at risk of or have been diagnosed with a developmental delay. Participation in an AIDP is voluntary, family centered, and primarily focused on children birth to 3 years of age. The AIDP consultant offers home visits, play groups, family support and parent to parent links. Developmental and family needs assessments are culturally sensitive and meaningful. A program may offer a lending library that includes books/videos, journals, toys, and adaptive equipment. Consultants refer families on to other community resources as necessary.
How do AIDPs deliver programs that are culturally appropriate?
Developing culturally appropriate programs uses activities and materials that respect the aboriginal culture representing the community and the geographical location. Customs, items, beliefs and values that accurately portray aboriginal people provide the foundation to program activities.
| Things (Cultural Objects) |
Customs (How People Live) |
Values (Beliefs, Reasons for Action) |
|---|---|---|
|
Clothing
|
Celebrations
|
Spirituality, religion
|
What about careers and training in Aboriginal Infant Development Programs?
Aboriginal Infant Development Consultants are in desperate shortage to support families with children who have developmental delays or disabilities in BC. Infant Development Programs have provided services in BC since 1972 and since then providing culturally sensitive practices has been identified as an important need for aboriginal families and communities.
The Office of the Advisor for Aboriginal Infant Development Programs (250-388-5593) assists developing and existing Infant Development Programs and is an excellent resource for job opportunities. Existing Aboriginal Infant Development Programs and Infant Development Programs including the Provincial Advisor and Regional Advisors also provide job opportunity information.
Aboriginal IDP consultants support families by providing home visits, activity planning, using children’s assessments that are culturally sensitive and by assisting families in accessing other health, social and community services.
Although it is desirable to have an IDP or SCC certificate to work as a consultant, it is also strongly recommended that a consultant obtain expert knowledge in typical and atypical child development, assessments for infants with special needs, and using family centered practice to support infants and their families. Previous work experience may include Nursing, Supported Childcare, Therapy services, Special Needs, etc.
Infant Development training is available at UBC for either the Certificate or the Diploma program. A new program combining Infant Development and Supported Child Development (SCD) has been created for consultants working with families who have children with special needs birth to kindergarten and for SCC consultants working with children with special needs, ages 3 to 12, in childcare and school settings.
The 5-course Certificate program can be taken part-time over a 1-2 year period then credits can be applied to the IDSC Diploma program. For complete information log on to UBC’s website:
- http://www.ecps.educ.ubc.ca/diploma
for basic info re the certificate and diploma programs in ID/SC