PONDA Podcast: Function versus Diagnosis: How do parents feel about access to resources for their child with a disability.

Dr. Selamenesh Tsige Legas, a developmental Pediatrics fellow at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehab Hospital, led the “Access to Need-Based Services” advocacy project with the Physicians of Ontario Neurodevelopmental Advocacy (PONDA) team, under the supervision of Dr. Benjamin Klein and recently shared the results of her interviews in a podcast.

In the field of developmental pediatrics, providing services based on need continues to be a significant challenge. The current system promotes service delivery based on diagnosis rather than need, making it difficult for families and children with disabilities to access the services they require unless they meet specific diagnostic criteria. For instance, a child diagnosed with Autism can access Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy, while a child with Down Syndrome may not have access to ABA therapy unless they also have an Autism diagnosis.

This podcast includes the perspectives of parents on this challenging issue that professionals have discussed repeatedly.

Listen to the podcast “Function versus Diagnosis: How do parents feel about access to resources for their child with a disability.”