Australian Autism Spectrum Disorders and Future Directions

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When I look at Australia in comparison with the US and UK we appear very disorganised and there is not a huge amount of direct support programs specifically for people with ASD that are coordinated at the national level or state. With some great smaller programs and services there seems to be little clear direction for the development of ASD specific services with an observable presence of those with ASD on boards and management comitees. I am a professional and adult with Asperger's. Perhaps a professional group of adults with ASD might be a great lobby group to government. I dont spose this exist yet? Anyone else in good old Australia interested or know of such a program?

River

This is Australia we are talking about here. The public don't care about ASD as it not one of those "cute" conditions that get all the funding and attention. I suppose you could try A4 Australia for this kind of thing. A4 Australia

Eh?

Employment services are all over the place for people with any disability, ASDs included. I know, because I've seen a heap of them, and they can get you a job you want if you have the cognitive ability for it.

ASDs are seen as genuine disabilities, so the same support as anyone with a disability is there, whether a disability pension, job services (vocational training), academic allowances [for adults], and there's ASD support groups all over the place here (Brisbane).

Not to mention the help kids get now (it's amazing), and my nephew is getting it now.

Things are a bit different in Brisbane than they are in other states. Though the disability services are great for adults with an ASD (if you get approved for it) there's still problems about placing autistic children in schools. There was a video on Ten News site about a mother that couldn't get her son placed into a mainstream school.
It's pretty damn hard to find ASD specialists in the lower part of NSW so even getting diagnosed properly would be a problem. I remember at first they wanted to send me to Queensland to get evaluated.