Telethon 2020: VisAbility children’s therapy sessions receive funding and become an internet sensation

Children’s therapy sessions held by occupational therapist Brianna Pemberton and the internet’s next sensation guide dog Bazza have received a funding lifeline through the Telethon Trust.

The VisAbility WA service helps children with a vision impairment, disability or developmental delay by using toys, resources and information to support families through their Kites Toybox program.

The program, which is a staffed by allied health professionals and students, usually travels to playgroups and parent sessions as a visiting service.

There, the loveable black labrador who is trained by Victoria Wilkinson, uses some of the 4500 toys in the box to deliver educational services and experiences to participants.

Now, in a unique twist on the usual way of delivering the service, Ms Pemberton and Bazza have started their own video blog to deliver their children therapy sessions amid the COVID-19 crisis.

“Essentially it's a support for parents of children with a disability or developmental delay to come together and have these books and blocks with Bazza playgroup sessions,” VisAbility and Guide Dogs WA Client services executive manager Kary Macliver said.

You can view the Books & Blocks with Bazza vlogs on the Kites Children's Therapy Youtube channel.