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Autism Spectrum Australia (Aspect) - formerly Autism Association
of NSW - launched Autism Awareness Week at Tattersalls in
Sydney on Monday, 9 May, with Guest of Honour, the Hon John
Della Bosca, Minister for Ageing and Minister for Disability
Services, officially opening the week on behalf of the Premier
of NSW.
Conservative international research puts the prevalence of
autism at 65 per 10,000, which would indicate that 40,000
people in NSW are on the spectrum. Nationally the figure rises
to 130,000. Autism Spectrum Australia worked with over 4,000
people with autism in 2004. As most of these contacts related
to children or young people it meant that Autism Spectrum
Australia had direct contact with about one third of the estimated
number of children with Autism Spectrum Disorders living in
New South Wales. In addition, many other service providers
were in contact with Autism Spectrum Australia, taking the
total to about 6,000 people the organisation was in contact
with in 2004.
However, according to Adrian Ford, Chief Executive Officer
of Autism Spectrum Australia, “Funding for additional
services is essential to provide programs for more families
living with autism, particularly in rural and regional areas
of the State”. Autism Spectrum Australia opened its
first regional centre for autism in Alstonville in March this
year, serving the Far North Coast of NSW. This program was
made possible by funding from the Federal Government’s
Invest to Grow program. Autism Spectrum Australia is now in
serious negotiations with the NSW Department of Education
& Training to explore educational opportunities in the
Riverina area.
This builds on the over 600 early intervention places offered
annually, and the 427 school places offered to children and
young people from Newcastle to Wollongong, making this one
of the largest autism-specific school programs in the world
along with the program of services offered to adults with
autism with very high support needs.
 Art
Show 9 - 20 May
To tie in with the national theme ‘Through the Eyes
of Autism’, Autism Spectrum Australia will hold an exhibition
of artwork by children and adults with an Autism Spectrum
Disorder, to be unveiled at the launch. The art show will
then tour Autism Spectrum Australia’s Schools for Children
with Autism in Wetherill Park, Kirrawee, Terrigal, Shortland
(Newcastle), Forestville, and Corrimal (South Coast) - see
below for details.
“The paintings on display will give people the opportunity
to see the world through the eyes of people with autism,”
said Adrian Ford, Chief Executive Officer of Autism Spectrum
Australia. “Art is a powerful tool for them emotionally
and visually. Strong colours, attention to detail and a love
of cartoons, are some of the most common characteristics of
their work,” he explained.
Dr Isabelle Hénault Workshops - 13 and 14
May
To conclude the week, Autism Spectrum Australia (Aspect)
will present a two-day workshop at Revesby Workers Club on
13 and 14 May with Canadian psychologist and researcher, Dr
Isabelle Hénault. Dr Hénault will address issues
of "Asperger's Syndrome and Sexual Development",
for professionals working with adolescents and young adults
with Asperger's Syndrome, and "Understanding Relationships
and Sexuality for Parents and Couples", for parents and
couples with a child or partner with Asperger's Syndrome.
Anyone who has a family member with Asperger’s Disorder
is urged to attend.
New autism school unit at the Sylvanvale Handicapped
Children’s Centre
at Kirrawee - Official Opening 13 May
Autism Spectrum Australia (Aspect) will officially open a
new unit of its South East Sydney School for Children with
Autism at the Sylvanvale Handicapped Children’s Centre
at Kirrawee on Friday, 13 May. A few months ago Aspect was
invited by Sylvanvale to take over the management of its school
which was mainly focusing on educating students with autism.
The Sylvanvale Unit commenced operation at the beginning of
Term 1, 2005, with 24 children with Autism Spectrum Disorders
in attendance.
“This is a tremendously exciting development for Autism
Spectrum Australia as it substantially extends our capacity
to offer an education service to children with autism living
in southern Sydney,” said Adrian Ford, Chief Executive
Officer.
Ends#
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