❓ A parliamentary question seeks information on early intervention programs for autistic children funded by the Disability Services Commission in WA, covering program details, staffing, age ranges, therapy hours, and the number of beneficiaries. The answer provides details on specific programs and funding.
AnsweredQoN 2278Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
(1) How many early intervention programs for autistic children are funded by the Disability Services Commission?
(2) Which organisations provide the programs identified in (1) and what kind of early intervention therapies do they provide?
(3) How many FTE staff are employed by the organisations in (1) to provide early intervention therapies to autistic children?
(4) What is the age range for the children receiving early intervention therapies from the organisations in (2)?
(5) To how many hours each week of State Government-funded early intervention therapy are autistic children entitled?
(6) What is the total number of autistic children who benefit from early intervention programs?
(2) Which organisations provide the programs identified in (1) and what kind of early intervention therapies do they provide?
(3) How many FTE staff are employed by the organisations in (1) to provide early intervention therapies to autistic children?
(4) What is the age range for the children receiving early intervention therapies from the organisations in (2)?
(5) To how many hours each week of State Government-funded early intervention therapy are autistic children entitled?
(6) What is the total number of autistic children who benefit from early intervention programs?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
4 December 2003
Responded by
Minister for Disability Services
Response time
14 days
· Autism Early Childhood Intervention Services (AECI), where services are specifically focussed on young children with autism and their families. There are four of these providers in Western Australia, three metropolitan and one country provider; and · Early Childhood Intervention Services, where services are specifically tailored to address the needs of young children with disabilities and their families. There are nine of these providers, who may accept children with autism into their services under varying conditions. 2. AECI providers are: · Mildred Creak (Disability Services Commission provided service) Services provided are based on Applied Behaviour Analysis. Mildred Creak is staffed by clinical psychologists, psychologists, speech pathologists, autism therapy assistants, autism early intervention officers and social trainers. · The Autism Association of Western Australia (AAWA) Intervention at AAWA is a family centred model of intervention based on international research in the field of autism. Staffing includes clinical psychology, speech pathology, occupational therapy and intervention therapists. · ISADD Services are home-based interventions using a Discrete Trial Training approach. ISSAD is staffed by clinical psychologists and case managers with a speech pathologist available for consultation. · Country Services Coordination (Disability Services Commission provided service). As part of the agreements with the Department of Health therapy services are provided in regional areas by teams of allied health professionals. In addition, specialist support is available to therapists working with children with autism in the country through the Country Resource and Consultancy team. The Country Autism Service also supports families with country visits on a needs basis, regular telephone contact, ongoing parent training and joint programming with local service providers. 3. The number of staff employed by non-government providers is unknown to the Commission. The Commission employs 5.2 FTE through its Mildred Creak service, and 3 FTE and additional funding amount to contract Therapy Assistants on a sessional basis through its Country Autism Services. In addition, the Commission estimates 2.5 FTE within its generic early intervention service provide services to children with autism. 4. Children range from eighteen months to school starting age of six years old. However, a diagnosis is more commonly made during the third year. 5. There is no entitlement to a particular amount of therapy. The level of intervention is based on relative need within the program. The flexibility of service based funding allows families with additional needs to have these addressed. From January 1 2003, for every 10 children there are 1220 hours of services available each year. 6. There are 280 families accessing services from AECI providers.
2. AECI providers are: · Mildred Creak (Disability Services Commission provided service) Services provided are based on Applied Behaviour Analysis. Mildred Creak is staffed by clinical psychologists, psychologists, speech pathologists, autism therapy assistants, autism early intervention officers and social trainers. · The Autism Association of Western Australia (AAWA) Intervention at AAWA is a family centred model of intervention based on international research in the field of autism. Staffing includes clinical psychology, speech pathology, occupational therapy and intervention therapists. · ISADD Services are home-based interventions using a Discrete Trial Training approach. ISSAD is staffed by clinical psychologists and case managers with a speech pathologist available for consultation. · Country Services Coordination (Disability Services Commission provided service). As part of the agreements with the Department of Health therapy services are provided in regional areas by teams of allied health professionals. In addition, specialist support is available to therapists working with children with autism in the country through the Country Resource and Consultancy team. The Country Autism Service also supports families with country visits on a needs basis, regular telephone contact, ongoing parent training and joint programming with local service providers. 3. The number of staff employed by non-government providers is unknown to the Commission. The Commission employs 5.2 FTE through its Mildred Creak service, and 3 FTE and additional funding amount to contract Therapy Assistants on a sessional basis through its Country Autism Services. In addition, the Commission estimates 2.5 FTE within its generic early intervention service provide services to children with autism. 4. Children range from eighteen months to school starting age of six years old. However, a diagnosis is more commonly made during the third year. 5. There is no entitlement to a particular amount of therapy. The level of intervention is based on relative need within the program. The flexibility of service based funding allows families with additional needs to have these addressed. From January 1 2003, for every 10 children there are 1220 hours of services available each year. 6. There are 280 families accessing services from AECI providers.
3. The number of staff employed by non-government providers is unknown to the Commission. The Commission employs 5.2 FTE through its Mildred Creak service, and 3 FTE and additional funding amount to contract Therapy Assistants on a sessional basis through its Country Autism Services. In addition, the Commission estimates 2.5 FTE within its generic early intervention service provide services to children with autism. 4. Children range from eighteen months to school starting age of six years old. However, a diagnosis is more commonly made during the third year. 5. There is no entitlement to a particular amount of therapy. The level of intervention is based on relative need within the program. The flexibility of service based funding allows families with additional needs to have these addressed. From January 1 2003, for every 10 children there are 1220 hours of services available each year. 6. There are 280 families accessing services from AECI providers.
4. Children range from eighteen months to school starting age of six years old. However, a diagnosis is more commonly made during the third year. 5. There is no entitlement to a particular amount of therapy. The level of intervention is based on relative need within the program. The flexibility of service based funding allows families with additional needs to have these addressed. From January 1 2003, for every 10 children there are 1220 hours of services available each year. 6. There are 280 families accessing services from AECI providers.
5. There is no entitlement to a particular amount of therapy. The level of intervention is based on relative need within the program. The flexibility of service based funding allows families with additional needs to have these addressed. From January 1 2003, for every 10 children there are 1220 hours of services available each year. 6. There are 280 families accessing services from AECI providers.
6. There are 280 families accessing services from AECI providers.
2. AECI providers are: · Mildred Creak (Disability Services Commission provided service) Services provided are based on Applied Behaviour Analysis. Mildred Creak is staffed by clinical psychologists, psychologists, speech pathologists, autism therapy assistants, autism early intervention officers and social trainers. · The Autism Association of Western Australia (AAWA) Intervention at AAWA is a family centred model of intervention based on international research in the field of autism. Staffing includes clinical psychology, speech pathology, occupational therapy and intervention therapists. · ISADD Services are home-based interventions using a Discrete Trial Training approach. ISSAD is staffed by clinical psychologists and case managers with a speech pathologist available for consultation. · Country Services Coordination (Disability Services Commission provided service). As part of the agreements with the Department of Health therapy services are provided in regional areas by teams of allied health professionals. In addition, specialist support is available to therapists working with children with autism in the country through the Country Resource and Consultancy team. The Country Autism Service also supports families with country visits on a needs basis, regular telephone contact, ongoing parent training and joint programming with local service providers. 3. The number of staff employed by non-government providers is unknown to the Commission. The Commission employs 5.2 FTE through its Mildred Creak service, and 3 FTE and additional funding amount to contract Therapy Assistants on a sessional basis through its Country Autism Services. In addition, the Commission estimates 2.5 FTE within its generic early intervention service provide services to children with autism. 4. Children range from eighteen months to school starting age of six years old. However, a diagnosis is more commonly made during the third year. 5. There is no entitlement to a particular amount of therapy. The level of intervention is based on relative need within the program. The flexibility of service based funding allows families with additional needs to have these addressed. From January 1 2003, for every 10 children there are 1220 hours of services available each year. 6. There are 280 families accessing services from AECI providers.
3. The number of staff employed by non-government providers is unknown to the Commission. The Commission employs 5.2 FTE through its Mildred Creak service, and 3 FTE and additional funding amount to contract Therapy Assistants on a sessional basis through its Country Autism Services. In addition, the Commission estimates 2.5 FTE within its generic early intervention service provide services to children with autism. 4. Children range from eighteen months to school starting age of six years old. However, a diagnosis is more commonly made during the third year. 5. There is no entitlement to a particular amount of therapy. The level of intervention is based on relative need within the program. The flexibility of service based funding allows families with additional needs to have these addressed. From January 1 2003, for every 10 children there are 1220 hours of services available each year. 6. There are 280 families accessing services from AECI providers.
4. Children range from eighteen months to school starting age of six years old. However, a diagnosis is more commonly made during the third year. 5. There is no entitlement to a particular amount of therapy. The level of intervention is based on relative need within the program. The flexibility of service based funding allows families with additional needs to have these addressed. From January 1 2003, for every 10 children there are 1220 hours of services available each year. 6. There are 280 families accessing services from AECI providers.
5. There is no entitlement to a particular amount of therapy. The level of intervention is based on relative need within the program. The flexibility of service based funding allows families with additional needs to have these addressed. From January 1 2003, for every 10 children there are 1220 hours of services available each year. 6. There are 280 families accessing services from AECI providers.
6. There are 280 families accessing services from AECI providers.
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