By Parents, For Parents.
Empowering Families Through Early Intervention.
#AboutUs
Who we are &
what we do.
About Small Steps Online
Small Steps Online is an empowering platform by The September Institute, created to support parents of children with Down syndrome during the critical early years of development. It is based on the proven Macquarie University Program for Developmentally Delayed Children (Sydney, 1980), offering a clear and practical approach to early intervention.
The method was originally developed by Moira Pieterse, Robin Treloar, Sue Cairns, Diana Uther, and Erica Brar at Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia. At the time, many families lived in remote areas without easy access to specialized therapies such as physiotherapy and speech therapy. To bridge this gap, the program was designed to empower parents to support their child’s development at home—with practical, everyday strategies that make a real difference.
The September Institute
Small Steps is part of The September Institute, an initiative of the Onward & Upward Family Foundation. Inspired by the founders' own journey with their son, Miles, who has Down syndrome, the Institute is committed to creating opportunities for children with intellectual disabilities in South Africa..
The Robin Hood model
At Small Steps, every parent gets full access to our early intervention platform for free — no matter their location or financial situation.
This is possible thanks to our Robin Hood model:
Parents and professionals who can afford to contribute are invited to make a voluntary donation. These donations allow us to keep Small Steps Online completely free for everyone — and, more importantly, help us reach families in places where support is nearly impossible to access.
In South Africa, for example, many children with Down syndrome don’t have access to therapy at all. There’s no insurance, no nearby services, and often no transport to reach support. With your help, we provide free therapy to these children during the most critical stage of development: early intervention.
So whether you're a parent using the platform or a therapist joining our map, your participation helps others take their first steps toward better care.
Want to know more about our broader mission?
Together, we're building a global safety net — one small step at a time.
#DonateNow
Help Us Keep Small Steps Free
Our Team
Nikita Oosthuizen
Program Manager
Robin Treloar
Advisory Board
Elaine Passmoor
Advisory Board
Roy Ockers
Founder
Ashley May
Physiotherapist
Contact us
Thank you!
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