April 28 program to help children with autism
April 8, 2009A new Rural Health Education Foundation television program airing on Tuesday 28th April is designed to help children with behaviours categorised under Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
Helping Children with Autism discusses diagnosis, early intervention, appropriate referral and access to services both in the preschool and school years.
The hour-long program provides a number of learning outcomes for health professionals, including the ability to use a systems-based approach to facilitate a diagnosis of ASD, and to identify early intervention strategies to effectively support children and families who are affected by ASD.
Diagnosis, referral and intervention are key
“For a child with autism to make significant gains, they require at least 20 hours of early intervention per week over two years,” says Rural Health Education Foundation CEO Don Perlgut. “And the diagnosis process for ASD can itself be quite protracted, particularly in rural and remote areas where access to relevant specialists may be limited, but it’s the key to accessing appropriate intervention and support services.”
“In light of this, one of the learning outcomes for health practitioners who watch this program is the ability to identify, as early as possible, appropriate referral patterns for children and families living with ASD,” Mr Perlgut says.
Presented by an expert panel
The program format is a panel discussion chaired by Dr Norman Swan, Presenter of the Health Report on ABC Radio National.
The panel features leaders in their field Mr John Christie, Principal of Giant Steps in Deloraine, Tasmania; Dr Natalie Silove, a Developmental Paediatrician and Head of the Child Development Diagnostic and Assessment Services at The Children’s Hospital in Sydney’s Westmead; Dr Michael Taylor, General Practitioner, Mount Barker and Medical Director, Adeliade Hills Division of General Practice; and Mr Anthony Warren, Director of Young Children & Families at Autism Spectrum Australia (Aspect).
Program funding
Helping Children with Autism is produced with funding from the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing.
Broadcast details
Helping Children with Autism will be broadcast across the Rural Health Education Foundation’s satellite television network on Tuesday 28th April at 8.00pm (AEST), with repeats at 8.00pm Perth time that same evening (two hours later) and 12.30pm on Friday 1st May.
Available on DVD and the web
DVD copies of this program will be available after the broadcasts via our website.
The program will also be available free on the Internet for viewing via web-streamed video or listening via an audio podcast.
About Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterised by a triad of impairments involving a delayed or deviance communication, social interaction and restricted patterns of behaviour. Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a collective term that includes Autistic Disorder, High Functioning Autism, Asperger Syndrome and Pervasive Development Disorder – Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS).
Between 0.6 per cent and 1 per cent of Australian children are affected by autism or a related disorder. Diagnosis is usually made by a multidisciplinary team.
Intervention strategies
Early intensive educational and behavioural intervention in the preschool years has been shown to produce positive outcomes for children and is vital to equip children with the skills needed to participate in school.
Types of interventions include biologically-based interventions, complementary and alternative medicines (CAMS), psychodynamic interventions, and a range of behavioural, developmental, therapy-based and sensory motor interventions.
A recent national Government initiative has increased access to early intervention funding aimed at providing appropriate and adequate access to services and assistance to children and their families.
The Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing has also published Early Intervention for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders: Guidelines for Best Practice, a summary of research findings relating to early intervention for autism, and an outline of the kinds of programs available in Australia, along with contact details.
More information
For more information about this program - including presenter details, access instructions and associated educational resources – refer to the online program summary or contact the Foundation.
Helping Children with Autism complements the Foundation’s 2005 program Learning Difficulties and Child Behaviour: Autism Spectrum Disorder, which examines the complexities of ASD and the benefit of early intervention.