Occupational Therapy · Speech Therapy
Cerebral palsy — therapy support for children
Clinically reviewed by Hannah Chamberlain
Cerebral palsy affects movement and posture. Goal-directed OT and speech therapy build independence and communication, online and coordinated with your team.
Clinically reviewed by Hannah Chamberlain
Last reviewed 31 May 2026
This page reflects current clinical guidance. See the Hey Sprout editorial policy for review cadence and corrections.
Therapy and cerebral palsy
Cerebral palsy (CP) is a group of lifelong conditions affecting movement and posture, caused by differences in how the developing brain formed or was injured. It varies enormously from child to child. Support is multidisciplinary, and the period of early childhood — when the brain is most adaptable — is an especially important window for intervention.[]
Hey Sprout provides two pieces of that picture online: occupational therapy (fine-motor, daily living, participation) and speech therapy (communication, including AAC, and sometimes feeding). Physiotherapy leads on gross-motor and mobility — that's outside our online offering, and we coordinate with your child's physiotherapist and medical team.
What OT and speech focus on
- Daily-living skills — dressing, eating, and self-care, adapted to the child
- Fine-motor and participation — using hands, playing, and joining in
- Communication — building language, and AAC where speech is affected
- Feeding — where safe and appropriate, coordinated with the medical team
Goal-directed therapy
The strongest evidence in cerebral palsy supports goal-directed training — therapy built around specific, meaningful goals the child and family choose, practised in real contexts.[] Rather than generic exercises, we work on what matters to your child (feeding themselves, using a device to communicate, joining a game) and build the skills to get there.
NDIS funding
Cerebral palsy is a recognised disability under the NDIS.[] Therapy is typically funded under Capacity Building — Improved Daily Living, and younger children access support through the early childhood approach. For families without NDIS funding, sessions are private-pay at the NDIS rate.
What a Hey Sprout plan looks like
Our single intake coordinates OT and speech around your child's goals, and we work alongside your existing physiotherapy and medical team. Sessions run online via secure video with parents closely involved. Where hands-on, in-person assessment is needed, we'll say so honestly rather than stretch telehealth past what suits it.
Frequently asked questions
What therapies help children with cerebral palsy?
Cerebral palsy support is multidisciplinary. Physiotherapy leads on gross-motor and mobility (that's outside our online offering). Occupational therapy builds fine-motor, daily-living, and participation skills, and speech therapy supports communication — including AAC — and sometimes feeding. We provide OT and speech and coordinate with your wider team.
My child has a physio — do you replace them?
No. We work alongside your existing team. Our OT and speech support complements physiotherapy and medical care; we coordinate so everyone is working toward the same goals.
What is goal-directed therapy?
It's the evidence-based approach for cerebral palsy — therapy organised around the specific, meaningful goals a child and family choose (like feeding themselves, using a communication device, or joining a play activity), practised in real contexts to drive functional gains.
Can therapy be done online?
A lot of OT and speech support for cerebral palsy works well online — especially goal-directed, parent-coached work in the child's own environment. Some hands-on assessment may need in-person care, and we'll be upfront about what suits telehealth and what doesn't.
Does cerebral palsy qualify for NDIS funding?
Yes. Cerebral palsy is a recognised disability under the NDIS. Therapy is typically funded under Capacity Building — Improved Daily Living, and younger children access support through the early childhood approach.
How Hey Sprout supports this
Related conditions
ADHD in children and adolescents
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common neurodevelopmental conditions in Australian children, affecting roughly 1 in 20.
Autism (Level 1 and Level 2) in children
Autism is a lifelong neurodevelopmental difference. Level 1 and Level 2 children typically benefit from speech, OT, and psychology support — and most are NDIS-eligible.
Childhood apraxia of speech (CAS)
CAS is a motor speech disorder where the brain struggles to plan the movements for speech. It needs frequent, specific speech therapy — and responds to it.
Developmental coordination disorder (dyspraxia) in children
DCD (often called dyspraxia) affects a child's motor coordination — handwriting, dressing, sport. Occupational therapy builds the skills that matter.
References
- Early childhood intervention for cerebral palsy — Cerebral Palsy Alliance (Australia), 2024
- Cerebral palsy in children and teens — guide — Raising Children Network (Australia), 2024
- Defining goal-directed training for children with cerebral palsy — a scoping review and framework for implementation — PubMed Central (US National Library of Medicine), 2024
