from http://www.hansard.act.gov.au/hansard/2010/week05/2038.htm
Health—autism
(Question No 815)
Ms Bresnan asked the Minister for Disability, Housing and Community Services, upon notice, on 24 March 2010:
What specialist services or programs are funded or provided by the ACT Government to assist people who have autism or aspergers.
Ms Burch: The answer to the member's question is as follows:
The ACT Government Social Plan sets out a commitment to the principles of inclusion. As far as possible, services to people with a disability are provided as part of the services available to all ACT residents.
The additional support services required by people with a disability are not generally classified by diagnostic category, but by need. People with autism and a co-morbid intellectual disability are usually assessed as having a severe or profound disability and high support needs. Therefore they are eligible for the range of disability support services provided or funded by the ACT Government - including respite services, community access services, community support and accommodation support services.
In addition to the services provided for all people with a disability, which are available to people with autism, the following autism specific services are provided.
Assessment of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): Therapy ACT conducts multi-disciplinary assessments which aid in diagnosis.
Community Paediatricians at ACT Health work in partnership with Therapy ACT in the assessment and diagnostic process.
Family Support
Therapy ACT provides a family group program for families in the ACT who have a child diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder. The program includes information, parent education, support and short-term targeted intervention.
Therapeutic Intervention
Therapy ACT provides therapeutic intervention (occupational therapy, physiotherapy, psychology, speech pathology, and social work).
Development and Education
The Department of Education and Training provides a range of specialist developmental and educational programs including:
communication and social awareness group for children aged between 18 months and three years. A diagnosis is not required for this group, but many of the children are considered likely to be diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder;
children with a diagnosis of an autism spectrum disorder between the ages of three and four years are eligible for eight hours of early intervention education services per week;
preschool-aged children are able to access up to 12 hours of mainstream preschool per week, in addition to their early intervention education hours;
Autism specific Learning Support Units in primary and high schools provide supported educational placements;
Inclusion Support for students in mainstream settings. This is a combination of direct resources allocated to schools (often resulting in the employment of Learning Support Assistant) and the support of consultant teachers;
Special school placements;
Students with ASD are also eligible for placements in general Learning Support Units and Learning Support Centres;
Technology support from the Inclusive Technology team; and
Ongoing professional development programs for school staff focussing on ASD - this includes the Positive Partnerships program in 2009 and 2010.