Team, scientific advisory board & supporters

“As a child, after my accident, I was at the Weißer Hof myself. What I experienced there shaped my development and made my path as an athlete possible in the first place.

Early, intensive support is not a given – it is a gift. That is exactly why I wholeheartedly support the Early Intervention association and this project.

This centre of excellence gives children and families exactly what many still do not get today: a place that does not wait.”

Andreas Onea
Para swimmer, 12-time medallist, 5× Paralympian
ORF presenter
Weißer Hof alumnus

“Early interventions are crucial for children with disabilities and their social environment, to ensure timely support that meets their needs as well as adequate therapeutic measures.

It is a responsibility of society as a whole not to leave families to fend for themselves, but to provide them from the outset with the structural and professional support that strengthens them in the long term and gives children the basis for as self-determined a life as possible.

The planned modern neuropaediatric centre of excellence is a central and forward-looking building block in this context.”

Karin Praniess-Kastner, MSc, former member of the Vienna state parliament
President of Wiener Hilfswerk
Consultant to the Zero Project
Organisational and HR developer

“Intensive early therapy is crucial!
Clinical observations confirm the results of numerous scientific studies on neurological conditions in childhood: the earlier the diagnosis is made and therapy is started, the better the treatment outcomes. Interventions should be evidence-based and guided by individualised, participation-oriented goals. Because of the pronounced neuroplasticity in early childhood, intensive, compact therapy concepts – for example two hours a day for three weeks, twice a year – prove considerably more effective than weekly one-hour sessions with comparable time and financial resources. In times of scarce resources, careful and efficient use is essential to offer affected children the best forms of therapy in appropriate doses, sustainably improve their quality of life and increase their opportunities for participation. Not only the children and their families benefit from this, but society as a whole.”

Dr. Mirna Wudernitz, head physician
Medical director of the VKKJ outpatient centre Strebersdorf

“Every child has the right to develop their full potential. Current scientific findings show us impressively that we should give children the chance to do so as early as possible in their lives^1,2. International recommendations describe what effective therapies for children with cerebral palsy can look like^3,4,5. In addition, our many years of experience show us how much joy it brings the children and us therapists to achieve goals together and to celebrate the successes of the children and their families.

Let us put into practice the knowledge we have gained over the last 15 years about early therapy for children with neurological impairments. Together with the centre of excellence for early intervention, let us make life easier for children with neurological impairments and their families.”
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Melanie Hessenauer
Head occupational therapist at the Centre for Paediatric Neurology, Neurorehabilitation and Epileptology, Schön Klinik Vogtareuth, Germany
Senior instructor for the AHA (Assisting Hand Assessment) www.cpteaching.com
Lecturer in evidence-based interventions for children with cerebral palsy

“In Austria, the need for early diagnostics and targeted therapy for young children with movement disorders is constantly growing. Modern treatments such as Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy (CIMT), deep brain stimulation and intensive rehabilitation with neurophysiotherapeutic treatment strategies are currently not available as part of inpatient rehabilitation for children with underlying neurological conditions.
The rehabilitation measures on offer prove insufficiently intensive and not targeted enough for children with special needs. Affected children are often diagnosed and referred late – mostly due to limited staff and structural capacity. Intensive forms of therapy tailored to the specific condition are currently only available in a few specialised rehabilitation centres abroad.
Nationwide provision of such specialised services is currently not feasible in Austria. The need for a corresponding specialised rehabilitation centre is very high at present and should be met in cooperation with all specialist disciplines working in neurology.”

Dr. med univ. Ulrich Scheibl, MSc
Specialist in orthopaedics and orthopaedic surgery, paediatric & neuro-orthopaedics

“The need for early diagnostics and specialised therapy for young children with movement disorders is growing steadily in Austria. Although we offer modern methods such as CIMT and deep brain stimulation at the hospital, children are often diagnosed and referred late – often due to limited resources.
Intensive therapies tailored to specific conditions are mostly only available in a few rehab clinics and cannot be provided nationwide in this country.

As head of the Expertise B Centre for Rare Paediatric Movement Disorders at the University Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine of AKH Vienna, I am therefore all the more pleased that this new, modern centre for children with movement disorders is creating a pioneering service. It ideally complements our specialist outpatient clinic and opens up new treatment perspectives for our young patients.
Close professional exchange between our teams will contribute significantly to the children's wellbeing. Together we are taking an important step towards the best possible care for affected families.”

Dr. med Dipl.-Psych. Sandy Siegert
Medical University of Vienna, University Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine

“As the founder of “Damensache – finance for women”, I campaign for financial self-determination – because I know how much unpaid care work mothers do and how much energy it takes to organise the best for a child. Early support like Early Intervention is not only close to my heart, but also of enormous value to society. Anyone caring for a child with support needs is doing unpaid care work worth thousands of euros – mostly quietly and invisibly.”

Dr. Marietta Babos
Financial expert & founder of the Damensache association

“Early intervention is very important, especially for children with disabilities, so that they receive adequate support and therapy in good time. The planned modern neuropaediatric centre of excellence is an important approach.”

Franz-Joseph Huainigg
Author, former member of the National Council and disability spokesperson, ORF accessibility officer

On founding a centre of excellence in Austria “… National and international recommendations underline the crucial role of early intervention for the development of children at increased risk of neurological impairment. In German-speaking countries, it is undisputed that routine, structured follow-up programmes for high-risk newborns are necessary and effective. International, evidence-based recommendations advise early, targeted interventions and support in order to significantly improve the physical, cognitive and social development of children with or at risk of cerebral palsy.

A centre of excellence for early intervention would ensure access to evidence-based, interdisciplinary services, standardise care and sustainably improve the long-term development and participation opportunities of affected children.”
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Prof. Dr. med. Steffen Berweck
Specialist in paediatrics and adolescent medicine, focus on neuropaediatrics
Senior physician at the KER Centre of the Eastern Switzerland Children's Hospital, St. Gallen, Switzerland

“… The international clinical guidelines show very clearly that intensive interventions for high-risk babies and babies who already meet the criteria for cerebral palsy should ideally take place between the ages of 0 and 2. Imaging and standardised neurological examinations such as GMA and HINE make early diagnosis possible.[…]

Clinicians should understand the importance of immediate referral to diagnosis-specific early intervention in order to optimise the infant's motor and cognitive plasticity, prevent secondary complications and enhance caregiver wellbeing.

We started early intervention at the Schön Klinik Vogtareuth about 2 years ago, and we can see very clearly the benefits this intervention brings to children and their families …”.
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Dr. Fahd Alsalloum
Senior consultant in neuropaediatrics, Schön Klinik Vogtareuth

“As one of the first supporters of this foundation, I can say that constraint-Induced Movement Therapy (CIMT) as an early intervention tool has been one of the most impactful additions to neurorehabilitation practice I’ve experienced. Early CIMT not only empowers patients, but also offers therapists a focused, structured framework that yields visible and meaningful outcomes within a short time frame. For any team working in early rehab, CIMT is an invaluable approach that can shift the trajectory of recovery. It is play based therapy, that aims to be fun and enjoyable for children, creating positive experiences with their affected upper limb.”

Courtney Stanley
Physiotherapist, thenationalphysio

“As a parent, I can confirm that an intensive early intervention programme contributed greatly to our child's positive development. After a relatively late diagnosis at 10 months, we were lucky enough to be admitted immediately to the early intervention programme at the Schön Klinik Vogtareuth in Bavaria. Thanks to evidence-based intensive therapy twice a year, supplemented by Botox treatments there and privately organised CIMT therapy in Manchester, our child has developed excellently.

Stephanie Schmid
Mother and chair of Early Intervention