Children on autism spectrum disorder 'cusp' missing out on early intervention, says child psychologist

By bobb |

Kate Hill

A Naracoorte child psychologist says children on the cusp of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may be missing out on vital early treatment because parents or educators may not realise a child needs specialist intervention.

"The earlier the detection, the better the outcome," said Lana-Joy Durik, one of only two psychologists who specialise in early childhood intervention operating in South Australia's south-east.

Disability SA forced to make $60 million in cuts as autism cases 'skyrocket'

By bobb |

Editor: Autism cases did not "skyrocket" in SA, the number of cases is completely inline with predictions. The SA Government and the NDIA ignored advice that the estimates they adopted were way too low. 

Disability South Australia is being forced to find up to $60 million in cuts, a state parliamentary committee has heard, with increased support only being offered for "must do" cases.

Huntfield Heights AEIOU Foundation Centre under investigation over claims of assault involving two children

By bobb |

THE state’s largest specialist childcare facility for autistic children is at the centre of a police and Child Protection Service investigation into allegations of assault involving two young children.

Two female staff at the Huntfield Heights AEIOU Foundation Centre are on extended leave while the investigations are under way.

The police probe is being conducted by the family violence investigation branch in the South Coast CIB, and detectives are working closely with Flinders Medical Centre’s Child Protection Service.

SA autistic children missing out on funding after NDIS warnings ‘ignored’, says Autism SA

By bobb |

THE state’s peak autism body says it warned the Government that up to 11,000 local children would need support from the national disability insurance scheme — about double the 5000 planned for — but was ignored.

Now the state and federal governments remain in a stalemate over who is going to pay for the thousands of extra children eligible for disability services and equipment.

In the meantime, families are facing growing delays to be assessed and approved for funding.

NDIS work for children on hold in South Australia

By bobb |

The National Disability Insurance Scheme has stopped ­creating support plans for some children in South Australia as a botched funding strategy for the state, which underestimated the number of participants by half, begins to bite.

The trial was originally funded for 5085 places despite evidence that about 10,000 children would be eligible. That figure has almost been reached without any extra money flowing from either the South Australian government or the federal government.

Almost 4700 plans have so far been made.

Autism Early Intervention Program expanded

By bobb |

JACE Kirby is much like any other three-year-old boy – he loves to run, jump and eat ice cream.

However, autism had taken away his ability to interact meaningfully with people.

An innovative South Australian program is changing that, bringing speech, hugs, smiles and even bubbles into Jace’s life.

His Port Pirie family of five is the first to go through the recently expanded Autism Early Intervention Program now operating from a house at St Marys.

Jace’s mother Rebecca Blight, 32, said before the program Jace could only say about 10 words.

Botched SA NDIS pilot leaves children in limbo

By bobb |

The trial of the $22 billion Nation­al Disability Insurance Scheme in South Australia has twice as many eligible clients as predicted, is 12 months behind schedule and is such a disaster that the federal minister responsible priv­ately calls it the country’s “worst” pilot of the scheme.

The agency delivering the NDIS has sought to hide the exten­t of the overrun in the state by releasing figures it knows are out of date.

Service provider view: Adelaide Fee Structure and NDIS Philosophy

By bobb |

AEIOU Foundation has adapted its service model delivery to best support families under the NDIS trial. For information about AEIOU Foundation’s fee structure in Adelaide, click here.

AEIOU advises the aforementioned fee fact sheet does not cater to individual family circumstances and all families should contact our Parent Liaison and Fees Coordinator for specific information.

Background

AEIOU Foundation was established in 2005, and operates nine centres across Queensland.

Older kids blocked from joining National Disability Insurance Scheme this financial scheme

By bobb |

 

LAUREN NOVAK POLITICAL REPORTER THE ADVERTISER

MORE than 1800 children will not be able to join the national disability insurance scheme this financial year as promised, because the administrative body is struggling to process applications fast enough.

In a letter obtained by The Advertiser, the head of the National Disability Insurance Agency warns it is “unlikely” children over the age of nine will be able to join the scheme before mid-next year because of delays in processing applications.

SA gets its first school for autistic students

By bobb |

Dorothy Vasilakis with her autistic son Christiaan Dramisino at Ashford Special School earlier this year. Picture: Calum Robertson Source: News Corp Australia

Treetop Autism Specific School will open for 45 students in Ashford in 2015

A SCHOOL for students with autism spectrum disorders will open in South Australia in 2015 following a campaign by parents.

Treetop Autism Specific School will cater for 45 students in years reception to nine.

It will be based in Ashford, on the current site of the Ashford special school, which is relocating to Plympton.

The Advertiser has covered the campaign by mother of two Fiora Christou and other parents with autistic children for such a school since last year.

South Australia is the only state without a specialised education facility for students with the developmental disability.

Treetop board chairman John Dagas said students with autism would not spend their entire schooling life there.