A panel of autism experts commissioned to advise the National Disability Insurance Agency on the condition has recommended children with an autism spectrum disorder diagnosis receive at least 20 hours a week of early intervention, delivered either one-to-one or in a small group.

In a report to be released on Friday, the panel, which comprised a range of academics, teachers and advocates,  backed the best practice intervention for young children, which can cost up to $80,000 a year.

Examine the teeth of a reticent patient in their car? Sure.

Use a heavy X-ray apron as a blanket to soothe a patient with autism? Happens all the time.  

"Jess is treated with dignity and respect, and why shouldn't she be?"

Sandra Younghusband

Andrew Whitehouse, University of Western Australia

One of the great and enduring mysteries of autism is what causes the brain to develop so differently. The behavioural differences of many individuals with autism are so apparent that it seems intuitive that the causes would also be obvious.

Media Release

Autism Aspergers Advocacy Australia, the national grassroot autism advocacy group known as A4, regards the Health Department's omission of autism from its recent report on The Mental Health of Children and Adolescents as negligent.

Australian authorities have denied disabled Australia-born children the access to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) because of their parents’ citizenship of New Zealand.

Severely disabled children born in Australia are being denied access to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) because their parents are New Zealand citizens.

ELIZABETH JACKSON: Children born in Australia are being barred from accessing the National Disability Insurance Scheme because their parents are from New Zealand.



Access is denied to children born in Australia to Kiwi parents who are not eligible for Australian citizenship, until they turn 10.



New Zealand politicians are protesting and disability advocates say it's a clear case of discrimination 



Here's Natasha Robinson:



(Sound of child playing in park)