Services

How EPIC Works – From First Concern to Care

Overview: A Clear Pathway for Families

EPIC creates a simple, repeatable pathway from first concern to ongoing support. It links:

Early signs of difficulty may appear at home, in school or during clinic visits. EPIC supports:

The goal is not to label a child, but to decide whether further assessment is needed.

When concerns are raised, EPIC integrates:

School-based screenings – for vision, hearing, behaviour, learning and social interaction.
Primary health centre (PHC) screenings – using age-appropriate tools during routine child visits.

Where screening suggests the child needs more support, EPIC provides standard referral guidance so families know where to go next.

EPIC supports a coordinated referral pathway to:

General hospitals with paediatric, audiology, physiotherapy, speech and mental health services.
Designated specialist clinics for neurodevelopmental assessment.
Tertiary facilities, where needed, for complex diagnostic work-up.

At this stage, children may receive a formal diagnosis or a working description of their needs, to guide support.

Following assessment, EPIC promotes a mix of supports, which may include:

Therapies: physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, behavioural and psychosocial support.
Assistive technology: glasses, hearing support, mobility aids, learning devices where available.
School support: adaptations in teaching methods, classrooms and school routines.
Community-based playsites: structured play and stimulation sessions led by trained “play interventionists”; caregiver coaching and peer support.
Social support: linkage to social welfare, community groups and economic support where possible.

The emphasis is on function, participation and dignity, not only on diagnosis.

EPIC encourages services to follow children over time, not just at one visit. With the support of a central data system and unique identifiers:

For Families & Caregivers

For Health Providers

For Schools & Educators

For Policy Makers & Planners

A structured model to integrate disability inclusion into existing health and education systems
Reliable, aggregated data on needs and service gaps