Page 2038 - Week 05 - Thursday, 6 May 2010

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Since 2007, with the exception of the response to school leavers and recipients of Quality of Life grants, the people prioritised for formal support (including Individual Support Packages) have been those with high and complex needs. They have generally received maximum allocations above $100 000 per annum. The number of people supported in 2010/11 may be less than the projected 20 if the majority of prioritised individuals have high and complex needs and need a higher than average allocation.

Health—autism
(Question No 815)

Ms Bresnan asked the Minister for Disability, Housing and Community Services, upon notice, on 24 March 2010:

What specialist services or programs are funded or provided by the ACT Government to assist people who have autism or aspergers.

Ms Burch: The answer to the member’s question is as follows:

The ACT Government Social Plan sets out a commitment to the principles of inclusion. As far as possible, services to people with a disability are provided as part of the services available to all ACT residents.

The additional support services required by people with a disability are not generally classified by diagnostic category, but by need. People with autism and a co-morbid intellectual disability are usually assessed as having a severe or profound disability and high support needs. Therefore they are eligible for the range of disability support services provided or funded by the ACT Government – including respite services, community access services, community support and accommodation support services.

In addition to the services provided for all people with a disability, which are available to people with autism, the following autism specific services are provided.

• Assessment of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD): Therapy ACT conducts multi-disciplinary assessments which aid in diagnosis.

• Community Paediatricians at ACT Health work in partnership with Therapy ACT in the assessment and diagnostic process.

• Family Support

Therapy ACT provides a family group program for families in the ACT who have a child diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder. The program includes information, parent education, support and short-term targeted intervention.

• Therapeutic Intervention

Therapy ACT provides therapeutic intervention (occupational therapy, physiotherapy, psychology, speech pathology, and social work).

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