Dear Prime Minister John Howard,
My Name is Amir, I am a 17 y.o. boy.
My 12 y.o. brother Hadi wrote to you awhile ago and got a response letter from you which made us all very happy. Our problem is regarding our little brother Elad who is 3 ½ y.o. and was diagnosed with severe autism. With your reply letter to hadi you sent us a booklet of the Federal Government released a report entitled ‘A review of the research to identify the most effective models of practice in early intervention of children with Autism Spectrum Disorders’ – which concluded – “ to be successful early intervention needs to be extensive and intensive. A minimum of 20 hours a week over two or more years is essential for young children to make major gains.”
The Problem is that we don’t have enough money to pay for intensive therapy. Mum was writing letters to all the ministers and she got alot of replies, but none of them were helpful. We desperately need financial help to pay for our little brothers therapy.
Please help us to help our little brother, Amir.
(included is a letter from mum, she would love to talk to you in person, is there anyway we can communicate to you directly?).
My name is Ronit, and I am a mother of four children, who I am raising by myself.
My youngest son Elad was born December 2003. His early development was normal, however when he was just over one year of age, he started to regress. He stopped talking, cried a lot and stopped moving forward with his development.
Soon after that Elad was diagnosed with autism, and the rollercoaster beganֲ.
(Autism is best described as a group of disorders with a similar pattern of behavior in three key areas - communication, social interaction and imaginative thought).
As a child with severe autism, Elad has
Difficulties with communication, social development, learning, and behavior.ֲ at present, Elad is not talking at all, this makes his world Very confusing, frustrating and scary. Elad’s lack of communication skills means that interacting and forming relationships with the people around him is very difficult, and at times impossible.
I began to look into programs for my son.ֲ I sought advice from a psychologist at Autism Victoria, my son’s pediatrician, and read a great deal of information and research from around the world.ֲ Based on this research, the general consensus from professionals in the field of autism is that “ABA”- Applied Behavioral Analysisֲ therapy, is the most effective treatment program for children with autism.
Evidence gathered that the best outcomes for children with autism are achieves by intensive, early behavioural intervention. Recent studies have shown that quite dramatic and long lasting improvements can result.
ABA is a treatment program focusing on the skills a child needs to be able to function successfully and to enjoy life to the fullest.
Language, social play, academic and self-help skills are all addressed.
ABA is effective for children with autism as it teaches skills through a very structured program, targeting the fact that such children do not learn naturally for the environment.
Research indicates that the best outcomes for children with autism come from early and intensive intervention.
The New York State Department of Health has identified that for programs to be effective they must start early and include curriculum specifically designed for Autism, The intervention must be intensive (a minimum of 30 hours of one on one).
In other parts of the world, including the USA, UK and Canada Governments provide adequate funding for families to access early and intensive evidence based treatment; they clearly recognise the importance of getting maximum and appropriate treatment at a very early age. They know that if they don’t provide this type of intensive intervention then the cost to the tax payer (government) of not treating those children in later life will be enormous.
Autism and related conditions such as Asperger Syndrome and Rhett's syndrome cost the Australian community up to $7 billion each year, according to a new report on the economic impact of the disorder.
The report, due to be released in Brisbane today at the start of Autism Awareness Week, analyses healthcare costs, education, social services, unemployment and informal care related to people with autism. Unemployment of people with autism was the greatest burden, at an estimated $3.63 billion a year.
Autism spectrum disorders, which affect one in 160 Australians, are characterized by impaired social activity, communication and imagination. An estimated 30,000 Australian children suffer from the conditions.
Synergy Economic Consulting, which prepared the report for the Autism Early Intervention Outcomes Unit, described its modeling as “conservative”. The report recommends greater investment in early intervention strategies that “maximize” the capabilities of people with autism.
“If this improves education and employment outcomes for even a small number of people, the benefits -- via reduction in costs and improvements in quality-of-life outcomes -- will be sizeable,” the report says.
In 2007, the Federal Government released a report entitled ‘A review of the research to identify the most effective models of practice in early intervention of children with Autism Spectrum Disorders’ – which concluded – “ to be successful early intervention needs to be extensive and intensive. A minimum of 20 hours a week over two or more years is essential for young children to make major gains.”
‘Unfortunately the Australian and Victorian governments do not fund early intensive therapy, (without the intensive therapy I might lose my son forever). “What other condition affects
30,000 thousand Australian children and their families, costs the community $7 billion per annum, and receives little or no Federal Government funding?”
*I trust you will be happy to know that Thanks to the help from some wonderful people/ organizations Elad started his ABA therapy on June 2006.
He is doing very well, learning new ways to communicate and express his needs, which reduces his stress level. It is really great for me to see that there is a hope for a better future for my son.
We still have so much more to accomplish. At the moment Elad is getting 30 hours of therapy a week for the amount of $700 per week.
My only source of income is centerlink payments/allowance,
These payments do not adequately cover our daily living costs never mind the additional financial burden of my son’s ongoing therapy and medical costs.ֲI am extremely worried about how I will be able to go on and support my children.
We desperately need a lot of financial support.
*I have written letters to some ministers and members of parliament, and met with some, in return I received several letters that said nothing but “sorry” and shifted responsibilities from one to another. For too long the “problem” of autism has been passed between Federal and State Governments, and between Departments, with the result that the response has been negligible.
.
Hi, my name is Elad
I’m a 3 year old boy ,
I have Autism
please help my mum to help me
Some things are hard for me. I cannot talk, and find it very hard to communicate, which is very frustrating for me. Transitions are also hard for me.
My mum loves me so…… much and she is trying her very best for me, she believes that the fact that I wasn’t born into a wealthy family is not a reason for me not to get the help I need, but my mum cannot do it alone, she needs the help of good caring people that want to make a difference…
Can you please help my mum to help me?
Hi my name is Hadi I am 12 year boy. My 3 year old brother is autistic.
When I first found out I was having a little brother I was so happy, and I couldn’t wait to play soccer and football and so many games with my little brother. But now that he became autistic I can’t play with him my mum doesn’t have as much time for me as she used to ,and it really makes life so hard for me and my family and its very upsetting seeing him suffer. We all want what’s best for Elad which is therapy. To have the therapy that he needs it costs a lot of money. Mum is very worried all the time because that she doesn’t have enough money for therapy and for our needs. If you could help us with anything at all it would bring hope back to me.
Thank you.
Hadi
*Professor Prior is recognized internationally for her research and clinical work with families, and with children and adolescents with an Autism Spectrum Disorder. This article is adapted from her address.
Treatment, especially early intervention
Diagnosis is happening much earlier these days, and appears to be quite reliable. There is a major increase in children needing early intervention, some of whom unfortunately sit on long waiting lists for services. This is of major concern given their needs at this extremely critical period of brain development and the establishment of the foundations of learning.
Happily, there is now greater optimism that something can be done to enhance the development of children with ASD whose prognosis has always appeared so poor. Outcomes seem to be improving particularly if appropriate best evidenced education and professional help is available. The earlier intervention is instituted, the better for child and family.
There is now an increase in expectations and expertise; teaching methods are quite well developed with emphasis on intrusion into the child’s withdrawn state, learning how to play, fostering joint attention, pre-language skills and communication skills, and social interaction skills and social rules. Parent guidance, training, and family support are now accepted as a critical part of intervention and education approaches.
Applied Behavior Analysis/Intervention (ABA) has the best evidence for treatment effectiveness; various names are being used for this intervention but it involves intensive one to one, consistent skill training, based on learning theory principles and methods, and carried out over many hours per week preferably by skilled therapists in collaboration with parents…
Some of the conditions which are needed for ABA to work well have been documented. These include:
• high intensity;
• early age better than later;
• many hours per week (20 to 40) over a long period of time;
• high family commitment; and
• Well-trained professional therapists.
It should be noted that these principles are important in any intervention with severely handicapped children with ASD.
*PETER OVERTON: Professor Tony Attwood is a world authority on autism and all too often the Brisbane psychologist sees families devastated by this chronic disability. He says there's simply not enough government support.
PROFESSOR TONY ATTWOOD: It is a burden to have a child with autism. But it is unfortunately made far worse by the system. The parents have to fight the system. The system should be there to support them. They have enough to do with their child with autism.
There's enormous stress. The divorce rate is very high. The depression rate is very, very high. The effect that it has on siblings is devastating. So in personal terms, it's horrendous.
DR JAMES MORTON: By targeting the early years, we can take children who are non-verbal and teach them how to speak. We can teach them how to look people in the eye, we can teach them to engage, we can teach them how to learn in a mainstream environment.
And the aim is that by getting these children from early intervention to attend mainstream school, you're putting them on the pathway to eventual independence, to finding a job…
As you can see we need your help
You can make a difference to a child’s life, and to his whole family.
PLEASE Help me to help my son,
Thank you,
Ronit Basiri
51 Scarlet St Mordialloc 3195 Vic
Ph: (03)95877719
. Email: ronit37@hotmail.com