This study of the economic costs of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in Australia has been undertaken for the Autism Early Intervention Outcomes Unit (AEIOU).
The objective of this study is to develop a better understanding of the likely resource cost incurred by people with ASD, their carers, Government and society. The cost-based approach that is employed here seeks to estimate the resources required to deliver services that specifically relate to the condition of ASD.
This report was commissioned by the Australian Advisory Board on Autism Spectrum Disorders with funding from the Commonwealth Department of Family, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaCSIA). It arose from experience that the prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) was increasing in Australia but there was a lack of evidence on the actual number of affected children, young people and adults across the nation.
Baroness admits to 'disastrous legacy' of problem children in mainstream teaching. Liz Lightfoot reports
Baroness Warnock, the educationalist whose report led to the drive to include children with special needs in mainstream classes, admitted yesterday that the policy had failed and left "a disastrous legacy".
She is urging the Government to carry out a "radical review" of the closure of special schools, which she said were better able to provide a reassuring and personal environment for emotionally vulnerable pupils than large mainstream classes.
"Governments must come to recognise that, even if inclusion is an ideal for society in general, it may not always be an ideal for schools," she said. "I think it has gone too far. It was a sort of bright idea of the 1970s but by now it has become a kind of mantra and it really isn't working."
The attached papers were published in the peer reviewed proceedings of the 2004 Australian Biennital Autism Conference in Canberra. The Conference was run by Autism Asperger ACT (AAACT).
The papers are no longer available on their website, so A4 made it available here ...
By Danielle Cronin
Health Reporter, Canberra Times
A "silent plea" went out yesterday for political parties to improve the lot of people with autism, as well as that of their families and carers.
More than 600 chairs, bearing the photographs of people with autism and related syndromes, were set up outside Parliament House in the "first national silent plea" for members of autism families.
The wife of former deputy prime minister Tim Fischer and mother of Harrison, said the event would fire up advocacy groups like never before.
