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Today, the Autistic Self Advocacy Network is proud to announce the release of “The Transition to Adulthood for Youth with ID/DD: A review of research, policy and next steps”. This policy brief (found here) analyzes the challenges faced by youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) in moving from pediatric to adult health care systems, accessing specialized health care, obtaining supports, and developing self-advocacy skills.

 

More than a third of young people in the U.S. who have special health care needs have been diagnosed with a behavioral or developmental disability. All of them face their own sets of challenges and obstacles in their lives. But there is one thing they hold in common — the need for continued support and health care as they transition from adolescence to adulthood. Typically, by the age of 26 young people age out of the medical coverage they may have had as children. In fact, over 75% of uninsured young adults have reported forgoing necessary medical care because of cost.

 

When children become adults, they start needing to self-direct their care: managing their own health care needs, including making their own doctor’s appointments and managing their own treatments. However, young people with disabilities often have a much greater difficulty with this. It is important that young people with I/DD are taught how to, and encouraged to, take their well-being into their own hands. Lack of access to support with managing health conditions may lead to serious adverse health outcomes, especially for young adults with complex medical needs.

 

To help combat the issues young people with I/DD face in entering the world of adult health care, our policy brief recommends specific next steps in research, program development and public policy to enable youth with I/DD to get the support and coverage they need. We hope you find it useful. Please feel free to share it broadly with your networks. As always, Nothing About Us, Without Us!

 

Read more here!



Carol Sonnenblick, Ed.D.

Board of Directors

Freedom Fom Fear


Chubby Santa’s, twinkling lights, parties, the aroma of pies and cookies baking in the kitchen, champagne bubbles, family feasts and gifts piled high greet each year’s holiday season.  Holidays are happy times, right?  Not necessarily.  The advent of the holiday season is not always a time of joy.  It is a time when we mourn those whose presence is missed.  It is a time when frenzied activity adds to the burden of life’s already hectic schedules.  It is a time of excess—spending too much, eating too much and drinking too much. How can we put in the obligatory time with family which may prove toxic as old habits and unresolved issues resurface?   How can we enjoy the holiday season when coping with our usual stressors requires us to use all of our inner resources?  Here are some.

 

  • *Develop a shopping list and spending plan.  Resist impulse buying and extravagance.
  • *Remember that there is no reason to expect that difficult relationships will have improved since last year—so why get aggravated.
  • *Pace your activities.  Accept invitations to those events that will not overburden your life and cause next day exhaustion.  Feeling tired and frantic is not good for your physical and mental health.
  • *If food and drink are an issue—try moderation (more easily said than done—think  January when you will want to undo the results of binge indulging)
  • *Choose parties and events you really care about, avoid day after day of obligatory activities. 
  • *Set aside some time just for yourself—do something that you enjoy, makes you smile and reduces your sense of being on a treadmill.
  • *Chose someone you really care about and spend some quality time, even if it’s only a quick lunch somewhere. 
  • *Make plans for January and February to do something special—give yourself something to look forward to during the coldest, darkest winter months.
  • *Buy yourself a gift, something that you really want that no one else is going to get for you. 

Put the holiday into perspective—the excitement, the scenery, the parties, friends and family.  Recognize that changes in routine can be stressful but that’s just part of the season—enjoy and happy holidays.   

“Remember that our expectations will create our reactions, and expectations are often too idealistic if guided by the hallmark holiday image.”   -Mark Sisti, Ph.D


“Have the freedom to change traditions, based on what works and what no longer works.”-Constance Salhany, Ph.D.


Source:  http://www.freedomfromfear.org/viewtopic.asp?topic_id=246

Christmas and ASD


Christmas  can  be  an  exciting  and  fun  time,  but  it  can  also  be  stressful.
People  with  an  autistic  spectrum  disorder  (ASD)  may  be  confused  or
distressed  by  all  the  new  activity  within  the  household  at  Christmas  and
this can be upsetting for the rest of the family. Hopefully this information

sheet will provide some tips which might help. The word ‘child’ will be used throughout however some of the tips will be useful for adults too.

 


Preparation


As Christmas approaches, you may want to highlight this holiday period on the household’s or child’s calendar. We would suggest that you check when the school starts work about Christmas, and perhaps you could introduce the idea at a similar time. This will help to ensure consistency. However, if this time frame does not leave enough preparation time for your child, then you should adjust it as appropriate.

 

You may only want to emphasise Christmas Day on the calendar. Or you might want to indicate when the school term ends and starts again, to show that the child will be at home during this holiday. You could name this period on the calendar: ‘Christmas Time’ might be appropriate. Highlighting this on the calendar will help your child to prepare for the time spent away from school, and therefore the change in routine. You can start talking to your child about ‘Christmas Time’ and what this means. This will differ for each family. You could produce a booklet on Christmas with pictures of relevant items, for example Christmas trees, the sorts of decorations you use and the food you might eat. However, remember that if your child is very literal you will need to be careful as they may become anxious if your Christmas does not appear exactly as the pictures.

 

On your calendar you can mark the days that you will buy and put up the Christmas tree and decorations, as well as any other changes which will occur. Do not forget to include the day when relatives or friends will arrive to stay. Although a lot can change during this time, it is important to continue your child’s routine to some extent. If you use visual timetables with your child (see our ‘Visual supports’ information sheet, available free from the Autism Helpline), continue to use them to show what they will be doing during this period.

 

You should include your child with an ASD in the Christmas process. You may want to take them shopping for the tree and decorations, or show them where they are kept in the house before you bring them out for the holiday. This will help your child to become familiar with these items, even if they saw them the year before. Your child should also be involved in putting up the decorations, even if they are just in the room when it occurs. This will hopefully prevent any negative reactions to these new items being placed in a familiar environment.

 

If your child does want to be included then you may like to give them a particular job to do which they can focus on. This may help them to feel included and less anxious about the changes around them. You may even want to decorate the house over a few days if your child finds change particularly difficult. For example, you could place the tree in position, leave it for a few days and then start to decorate it, adding any house decorations later on.

 

The Autism Helpline is often asked about suitable toys or gifts for a child with an ASD. These will vary from one person to another. However we would suggest that for some children with an ASD having a huge number of presents from friends and family might be too overwhelming. Perhaps a set amount could be given, maybe one from mum and dad and one from grandparents. Any other family members who would like to buy a gift could perhaps put the money in a trust fund to be used for the child at other times. Alternatively, perhaps giving the child one gift a day might help to reduce any anxiety.

Suitable gifts

The Autism Helpline is often asked what toys might be suitable for children with an ASD. Therefore we have compiled a list (in no particular order):


1) Trampolines
These come in lots of different sizes, but make sure it’s strong. They are good for using up energy.

 


2) Sensory toys
There are many types of these, some examples are:

  • *bubble tubes/columns, all different sizes and colours
  • *fibre optic plumes that change colour and can be safely brushed with the hand
  • *bubble-making machines.


3) Board games


  • *’The Socially Speaking Game’ is a social skills board game for seven-year-olds+ from LDAlearning (www.ldalearning.com)
  • *Battleships/Guess Who? are both turn-taking games.


4) Music

  • *on tape or CD
  • *instruments.


5) Bikes/tricycles


6) Water toys


7) Books
Read-along ones, perhaps accompanied by a tape of the story; for example The Hungry Caterpillar.


These are just a few examples, there are many more. Please remember that every child is different so not every child will like the same toys.

The following website also has some advice about choosing toys for children with autism: www.insidethebubble.co.uk/toys.php

If your child is becoming obsessive about Christmas, you will need to try and set boundaries around this obsession. Please see the Obsessions, repetitive behaviours and routines information sheet for further information.
If you would like any of the information sheets mentioned in this article (Visual supports; Obsessions, repetitive behaviours and routines) please contact the Autism Helpline 0845 070 4004.


Useful contacts


Garden Adventure
Trampolines of all sizes and shapes
Tel: 01342 300146
Email: info@gardenadventure.co.uk
Website: www.gardenadventure.co.uk/Trampoline/index.php


Fledglings
A charity which helps parents and carers of a child with special needs of any kind to find simple, affordable solutions to practical problems.
Sells toys, trikes and other products for children with disabilities
Tel: 0845 458 1124
Email: enquiries@fledglings.org.uk
Website: www.fledglings.org.uk


KidsOut
National charity providing fun to children with special needs, including play equipment and grants
Tel: 01525 385 232
Email: kidsout@kidsout.org.uk
Website: www.kidsout.org.uk


Special Needs Kids
Some ideas for special needs toys
Email: enquiries@special-needs-kids.co.uk
Website: www.special-needs-kids.co.uk/toys-index.htm


LDAlearning
Resource catalogue
Tel: 0845 120 4776
Website: www.ldalearning.com


National Association of Toy and Leisure Libraries
Tel London office: 020 7255 4600
Tel Scotland office: 0131 664 2746
Tel Wales office: 02920 566 333
Website: www.natll.org.uk


Rompathe 6th sense
Resource catalogue
Tel: 01246 211777
Email: sales@rompa.com
Website: www.rompa.com  


SenseToys Ltd
Tel: 0845 257 0849
Email: info@sensetoys.com
Website: www.sensetoys.com


SpaceKraft Limited
Resource catalogue
Tel: 01274 581 007
Website: www.spacekraft.co.uk


TFH UK
Resource catalogue
Tel: 01299 827 820
Email: enquiry form on the website
Website: http://www.specialneedstoys.com/UK/  


Winslow Resources
Resource catalogue
Tel: 0845 230 2777
Email: sales@winslow-cat.com
Website: www.winslow-cat.com


Please note the above organisations are not connected with The National Autistic Society in any way; we cannot recommend any of the above organisations.


References/recommended reading


Newson, J. and E. (1982). Top twenty toys for handicapped children in Living and working with autism. Section 5. The National Autistic Society.
This article is a little old-fashioned in its use of language. However many of their recommendations will still be applicable today. Copies are available from the Autism Helpline on 0845 070 4004.


If you require further information about autism and related issues, please contact the NAS Autism Helpline, open Monday-Friday, 10am-4pm:


Tel: 0845 070 4004
Email: autismhelpline@nas.org.uk


Source:    http://www.autismjersey.org/   

Further Articles


NAS:  Ten Ideas For A Happy Christmas

https://www.aspie-editorial.com/2011/01/09/nas-ten-ideas-for-a-happy-christmas/


Grieving: 7 Tips To Get You Through The Holidays

https://www.aspie-editorial.com/2011/01/09/grieving-7-tips-to-get-you-through-the-holidays/

Holiday Pieces: Getting Through The Holidays, Family Ties, Doing Right For Others & Holiday Blues:

https://www.aspie-editorial.com/2011/01/22/holiday-pieces-getting-through-the-holidays-family-ties-doing-right-for-others-holiday-blues/

Holiday Shopping Tips, Christmas Stress Management, Why Holidays Don’t Have To Be ‘Happy’:

https://www.aspie-editorial.com/2011/01/22/holiday-shopping-tips-christmas-stress-management-why-holidays-dont-have-to-be-happy/

NAS: ‘Tis the Season to be Jolly:

https://www.aspie-editorial.com/2011/01/22/nas-tis-the-season-to-be-jolly/

Introverts: Party Survival Tactics, The Party Predicament, Introverts & Health:

https://www.aspie-editorial.com/2011/01/22/introverts-party-survival-tactics-the-party-predicament-introverts-health/

LEGO NAS Charity Calendar 2010 & New LEGO Games:

https://www.aspie-editorial.com/2011/01/22/lego-nas-charity-calendar-2010-new-lego-games/

Sensory Toy Warehouse(Please Note Comment For Name/Site Change):

https://www.aspie-editorial.com/2011/01/22/the-novelty-warehouse-sensory-toy-shop/


Introvert’s Guide to Holiday Merriment:

https://www.aspie-editorial.com/2011/01/22/introverts-guide-to-holiday-merriment/


Managing Holiday Stress, Alone For The Holidays, Families In Recovery:

https://www.aspie-editorial.com/2011/01/22/managing-holiday-stress-alone-for-the-holidays-families-in-recovery/




 

The Autistic Self Advocacy Network is looking for a full-time Leadership Programs Coordinator. The Leadership Programs Coordinator will play an integral role on ASAN’s community engagement team and will work closely with ASAN leadership to plan and coordinate ASAN’s leadership trainings, support the participants and alumni in their skill development and activism following the trainings, and coordinate national self-advocacy efforts in conjunction with the Director of Programs and other ASAN staff.

 

This job is a salaried position based out of ASAN’s Washington, DC office. To learn more, please view the job listing on our website.

 

Prior experience with grassroots organizing, event planning and coordination is strongly preferred. We strongly encourage applicants with disabilities to apply.

 

Interested parties should send their resume, cover letter, and 2 references to jbascom@autisticadvocacy.org.



Tones - Art and Music Interviews

 

PRWeb

Tuesday, November 26th 2013

 

Sony Pictures, Warner Bros., Film Roman, DreamWorks, Titmouse, and others lend their expertise as part of Exceptional Minds’ three-year digital arts program taught by movie industry professionals and adapted for the special needs of individuals with autism.


Exceptional Minds digital arts vocational school for young adults with autism has been making the Hollywood rounds these past few weeks in order to help prepare its first graduating class for careers in the highly competitive fields of digital animation and post-production.

 

Executives from Sony Pictures Imageworks and Warner Bros. Animation recently visited the school as guest lecturers, as did key animators as well as a recruiter from Film Roman animation studio. Exceptional Minds students – all on the spectrum and preparing for careers in the digital arts — also met with staff and crew at DreamWorks Animation, Film Roman, Sony Pictures Imageworks, Titmouse Animation, and Big Screen Network Production in the past two months. In addition to lecture speakers and studio tours, four Exceptional Minds graduating students and an instructor recently worked on visual effects for upcoming blockbuster movie American Hustle, earning them screen credit for their contribution to the film.

 

This recent activity is all part of Exceptional Minds’ three-year digital arts program taught by movie industry professionals and adapted for the special needs of individuals with autism. “We have reached the point in our program where our students have met most of their program certification requirements and are now continuing their education outside the classroom. When we called on the industry to give of their time, we were overwhelmed by the response and the genuine interest in our students,” said Susan Zwerman, one of the co-founders of Exceptional Minds who is also an established visual effects producer and recipient of the 2013 Frank Capra Achievement award.

 

Read More …

http://www.virtual-strategy.com/2013/11/26/exceptional-minds-digital-arts-school-young-adults-autism-makes-hollywood-rounds



mindspark

 

Posted on: 11:17 am, November 29, 2013, by

 

(Santa Monica, CBS) The most surprising thing about Max Parker’s morning routine is that he has a job to go to — at all.

 

He didn’t know a whole lot about it when he got into it.

 

“It was pretty much all new stuff,” he says.

 

But now, he seems to be excelling at it.

 

Parker is a software analyst. He’s also autistic.

 

Parker says that when he was growing up, he never envisioned having a job like this.

 

Roughly 75 percent of autistic adults are unemployed, in part because the brain disorder makes it difficult to interact with others.

 

But many on the autism spectrum also have an uncanny ability to focus intensely on minute details — perfect for the tedious work of hunting for glitches in computer software.

 

“This is not a charity,” says Chad Hahn, the CEO of MindSpark. “And our employees are good at what they do.”

 

Hahn, a software designer, used to outsource work to India, but his wife, a social worker, convinced him “high-functioning” autistic adults, like Parker, are well suited for the job.

 

“If you and I look at a set of instructions over and over again, I don’t know about you, but I would miss some things,” Hahn says. “Max doesn’t miss things. He’s really good at it.”

 

“Finding jobs for people with autism that focus on technical skills, on concentration, on detail, is exactly the right thing to do,” says Dr. Marcel Just, who studies autism at Carnegie Mellon University.

 

Just says his research has found autistic brains are wired differently. Most people rely on the front of the brain to process the “big picture” around us. But with autism, it’s the opposite: thinking is dominated by parts of the brain that handle details.

 

“People with autism can zoom in on detail, with technical knowledge, with expertise, and zoom in, not be bothered by the larger picture and maybe find details that are wrong,” Just says.

 

Read in Full:

http://wreg.com/2013/11/29/california-company-finds-special-value-in-autistic-employees/



Missing Teen With Autism Home for Thanksgiving

NBC New York

Friday, Nov 29, 2013  |  Updated 11:18 AM EST

 

A New Jersey teenager with autism who went missing for a week before being found in Ohio is now back home.

 

Michael Karwan, 19, of Marlboro and his parents arrived at Newark Liberty International Airport on Wednesday night, one day after he was located at a men’s shelter in Cleveland.

 

Monmouth County authorities say Karwan left his parent’s home Nov. 11 and traveled by bus to Manhattan. He then went to upstate New York, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh before arriving in Cleveland on Saturday.

 

Karwan tried to check-in to an overcrowded men’s shelter that day, but a staffer there referred him to another nearby shelter which took him in. But the staffer at the first shelter soon recognized Karwan from a Facebook newsfeed item and called Marlboro police, who contacted Cleveland police.

 

Officers who went to the shelter were able to confirm Karwan’s identity, and he was soon reunited with his parents.

 

“It might be only seven days (he was missing), but for us it was an eternity,” Karwan’s father, Walter, told reporters during a news conference at the airport.

 

Read in Full:

http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/Missing-Teen-With-Autism-Back-Home-233830741.html



MERRY CHRISTMAS

 

By

 

Your mother-in-law takes over the kitchen at holiday time. So what? Your father-in-law drinks too much and sulks in the corner. Big deal!

 

Don’t let in-laws ruin your family holiday, multiply your stress, and leave you feeling defeated or angry. There are some simple strategies you can use to get along with difficult in-laws this holiday season.

 

Doing so will make your holiday get-together more pleasant. But there’s an even better reason to make peace with in-laws.

 

 

In my long-term study of married couples, when a husband or wife fails to get along with the in-laws, it’s predictive of marital unhappiness down the road. On the flip side, in the happiest marriages from my study, both spouses reported that they felt close to, or at least got along with, their in-laws.

 

Here are some ways to avoid adding in-law stress to your holiday season — and potentially harming your marriage.

 

1. Expect the minimum.

 

Don’t expect praise, warmth, and approval from your partner’s family. Transform into a gracious host and treat them as honored guests. They will either respond or not, but you won’t care.

 

2. Let them help.

 

Ask your father-in-law to build a fire. Ask your mother-in-law to make or bring her favorite dish. People like to be needed, and it gives them a way to contribute.

 

3. Be a reporter.

 

One of the best ways to keep conversations light is to ask questions and get your in-laws talking — about their work, childhood, hobbies, etc. People love talking about themselves.

 

4. Blend traditions.

 

Ahead of time, ask your partner to describe family rituals — such as special prayers, toasts, foods, or after-dinner games or activities — and surprise your in-laws with one of their favorite holiday rituals.

 

Read in Full:

http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2013/11/30/7-tips-for-managing-in-law-stress-during-the-holidays/

 



http://www.iambackfromthebrink.com/back-from-the-brink-usa/

 

By

 

When we suffer from depression, including bipolar disorder and postpartum depression, we may feel responsible for the depressive feelings. Like somehow it’s our fault.

 

We may also feel alone in battling the illness and lack support or inspiration from others.

 

Sometimes this may cause us to give up hope and feel like there’s no end to how low we’re feeling; after all, if there’s nothing we can do and nobody we can turn to for help, there’s no point in trying to get better.

 

Celebrities Can’t Get Depressed, Can They?

 

After all, only ordinary people like you can suffer from depression. High-flying celebrities are immune, right?

 

Wrong.

 

In recent years, numerous prominent figures from politics, sports and entertainment have ‘spoken out’ about their own battles with depression, bipolar and the stigma surrounding mental illness.

 

In fact, the pressures and expectations of public life often make dealing with mental illness harder. Denial and the need to fulfill high-profile duties can be compounded by the fear of stigma and intense scrutiny. There may be consequences that come with admitting that something’s not right and seeking help.

 

We can draw plenty of reassurance and inspiration from these candid accounts of grappling with the black dog in spite of – or sometimes due to – a very public life in the limelight.

 

We can also learn plenty of lessons from how others have fared in coping and living with depression, bipolar or postpartum depression and apply them to our own situation.

 

Here’s what three prominent figures from the worlds of sports and politics — interviewed in my book Back From The Brink –can teach you about coping with depression.

 

Read in Full:

http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2013/12/01/celebrity-tips-for-beating-depression/



alcohol and insomnia keep you awake

 

By Associate News Editor
Reviewed by John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on November 30, 20

 

Among men who suffer from certain types of insomnia — difficulty falling asleep and non-restorative sleep in particular — there is a slight increase in risk of death from heart-related problems, according to a new study by researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.

 

People with insomnia have trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or both, with the result that they do not get enough sleep and may not feel refreshed upon waking up. Research has shown that sleep is vital for heart health, and many studies have linked poor sleep with increased risk factors for cardiovascular-related diseases.

 

“Insomnia is a common health issue, particularly in older adults, but the link between this common sleep disorder and its impact on the risk of death has been unclear,” said lead author of the new study Dr. Yanping Li, a research fellow in the Channing Division of Network Medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH).

 

For the study, published in the journal Circulation, researchers analyzed data on self-reported insomnia symptoms of nearly 23,500 men taking part in the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study.

 

Using information from the government and the men’s families, they found that 2,025 of the participants died sometime over the six-year follow-up period.

 

After adjusting for lifestyle, age, and other chronic conditions, the researchers found that men who reported having difficulty falling asleep and non-restorative sleep had a 55% and 32% increased risk of death due to heart-related causes, respectively, compared with men who did not report experiencing these sleep problems.

 

Read in Full:

http://psychcentral.com/news/2013/11/30/insomnia-linked-to-greater-risk-of-heart-related-deaths-in-men/62674.html

Chronic insomnia? ask your doctor



Wollongong Campus- Australia Study Abroad

 

Updated 1 hour 21 minutes ago

 

The South Australian Government has promised to build a second Adelaide High School campus.

 

It said a city site for a campus for 1,000 students was yet to be chosen but would open in 2019.

 

The current Royal Adelaide Hospital site might be considered.

 

Inner suburbs including Bowden, Kurralta Park, Gilberton and Torrensville are to be brought into the Adelaide High School zone when a second campus opens.

 

Ovingham, Prospect, Fitzroy and Thorngate will become part of the Adelaide High zone sooner, in 2015.

 

The Government also said it was planning a special education precinct at the University of South Australia’s Magill campus and would talk to Norwood-Morialta High School about moving that school to the precinct.

 

 

New teachers will need greater qualifications from 2020 under changes proposed by the South Australian Government.

 

Education Minister Jennifer Rankine says all new teachers will need to have a two-year Masters degree on top of other qualifications.

 

Primary or middle-school teachers currently must have a four-year Bachelor degree.

 

A senior secondary school teacher needs to have a three-year speciality degree such as science and a teaching qualification which can take up to two years.

 

Ms Rankine said the planned changes would ensure teachers were highly skilled.

 

“If we want our children to come out of school being the best we have to make sure we have fantastic teachers in our schools, which we do currently, but they need to have the best qualifications that can be provided,” she said.

 

Premier Jay Weatherill would not be drawn on what the Government might be prepared to pay better-qualified teachers.

 

“Well these are the discussions we are going to have with the relevant representatives of teachers,” he said.

 

Mr Weatherill said teachers in countries such as Finland, where high levels of qualification were required, were not paid more than in other countries but had high status within the community “and so the best and brightest are attracted into the teaching profession”.

School with autism focus

 

South Australia’s first school aimed at children with autism spectrum disorders will open in 2015, backed by funding from Anglicare and the SA Government.

 

It will cater for 45 students and operate at the campus of the Ashford Special School when it moves to a new site.

 

The organisation Treetop will run the school.

 

Chairman John Dagas expects it will grow over time.

 

“It’ll start off as a R-to-9 initially, at this stage, but then it continue growing as the needs sort of increases and these children grow.” he said.

 

The Government previously argued against segregating children with autism from regular schools but Premier Jay Weatherill said that had changed.

 

“We’ve certainly been persuaded that this is the right thing to do, that’s why we’re getting in behind it,” he said.

 

Opposition education spokesman David Pisoni said he was pleased the Government had taken the idea on board but he thought there should be a larger school.

 

Source:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-11-26/adelaide-high-second-campus-norwood-morialta-extra-degree/5116498

Dorothy Vasilakis with her autistic son Christiaan Dramisino at Ashford Special School earlier this year. Picture: Calum Robe...

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

 

SA gets its first school for autistic students – Treetop Autism Specific School will open for 45 students in Ashford in 2015

  • The Advertiser
  • November 25, 2013 5:42PM

 

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.

 

Instead, they would “opt in and out” as they needed extra support, before hopefully returning to a mainstream school, he said.

 

Mr Dagas said 45 places would not be enough to meet demand initially but he hoped that would grow over time.

 

Ms Christou – whose son Andreas, 11, has autism and attends a special school – said families of about 550 students had indicated they would like their children to attend the school.

 

“There’s obviously a need for a specialised education service that looks at the child as an individual … and caters for the way that they need to be taught,” she said.

 

“Within a mainstream school they don’t have the resources, the time nor the money nor the experience in teaching children with autism.

 

“We just want to give everybody another choice.”

 

The State Government is providing the school site at low rent and a $100,000 grant to help establish the school.

 

 

The Government says construction of the $9.5 million centre is due to be completed “soon”.

 

It will cater for 105 Reception to Year 12 students with special needs.