Learning through play |
 |
 |
|
Autism spectrum disorders affect an estimated one in every 160 children in Australia, which in turn impacts on many thousands of families. Villa Maria’s Helping Children with Autism Program*, established in June 2009, operates alongside and in conjunction with its Early Childhood Intervention Service (ECIS) and delivers a comprehensive range of services to young children with Autism spectrum disorders and their families.
The Autism spectrum is broad and includes children with Autism, Asperger’s syndrome, Rett’s disorder, Childhood Disintegrative disorder and Pervasive Developmental disorder (not otherwise specified).
The complexity and differences in children with Autism spectrum disorders is great, however it primarily affects social interaction, communication and play, often resulting in restricted, repetitive and stereotypical patterns of behaviour, interests and activities. Children often show a reduced responsiveness to, or interest in people, may appear aloof and have limited or impaired ability to relate to others.
Anne Muir, Villa Maria ECIS Manager, says: “Due to the complex nature of these disorders, an individual and comprehensive plan for service delivery is always necessary. Our multidisciplinary team develops a child’s plan with their parents.”
Villa Maria’s team of therapists and teachers provide a range of services including speech pathology, occupational therapy, education, behavioural and parent education programs and these may be centre, home or community-based according to need and availability. Some children also access this program to support their inclusion in mainstream school in their prep year.
“We deliver all the services using a play-based model and the children look forward to the activities we provide,” says Anne.
FACHSIA (Australian Department of Family and Community Services & Indigenous Affairs) has established a panel of service providers, including Villa Maria, to deliver these services. Eligible families can spend $6,000 per financial year, up to a total of $12,000, on any number of services offered by the provider panel.
Anne explains: “Our Helping Children with Autism Program gives the families flexibility to select services which best meet their child’s needs, therefore children accessing this program may also be involved with other ECIS services. A flexible approach enables our team to provide services at times suitable for the greatest majority of families.”
Lisa, who has children in the program, says, “The therapy for the boys has been fantastic; the therapist knows them so well and pitches the therapy at just the right place. Equally important, she has assisted with their successful inclusion into mainstream services by helping the teachers to understand them as children first, initially in the Early Learning Centre and this year, at primary school.”
*The Helping Children with Autism (HCWA) Program is an Australian Government initiative. Referrals for this program must come through Autism Victoria. |
