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While there is no cure for autism sufferers, early intervention can make a huge difference in a child’s development, writes MELISSA WOODS.

Mother-of-three Cynthia Farrelly knows all too well the trials and tribulations experienced by a child with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).  Cynthia’s three children Finley, 7, Summer, 6, and Oliver,3, all suffer from the disorder in different ways, making everyday tasks a little more challenging for the Farrelly family.

Cynthia says it’s easier to manage in the home environment, but she rarely takes them all shopping together. “My main concern is people not understanding what my children’s condition is – if they had some sort of physical disability than people might make allowances for them – but autism affects my children emotionally, socially and sensorially.”

“My three children are very different and strategies that work on one may not necessarily work on the other, so it’s all about trying to balance and manage them in different ways.”

A new purpose-built centre, currently being constructed at CQUniversity Bundaberg thanks to $700,000 worth of Queensland Government funding, is answering the prayers of many families like the Farrellys.  

The new centre will be operated by Queensland not-for-profit organisation, the AEIOU Foundation, which is one of Australia’s leading providers of early intervention for children with autism. It will provide 12 full-time placements for children aged between two-and-a-half and six years in the Bundaberg and surrounding regions.

AEIOU is currently operating from the ABC Learning Childhood Centre in Bundaberg on an interim basis, but the foundation’s Director of Education Diane Heaney said a large number of families had been calling for greater support for young children with autism, including access to full-time and part-time early intervention programs.

Ms Heaney says children with autism learn differently. “By providing access to a specialised education program with therapy support, early intervention can be life changing. Children have a greater opportunity to reach their full potential, to engage and connect with their family, loved ones, friends and peers, more comfortably interact with the environment around them and make valuable contributions to their community.”

AEIOU works with schools to ensure the smooth transition of children with autism from AEIUO to their next learning environment. “AEIOU Foundation’s program is based on curriculum which has been specifically developed to meet the needs of children with autism. It is adapted for each child to ensure they, and their family, are supported to meet their own individual goals and milestones and taking their strengths and needs into account.

“The program is delivered by teachers, skilled learning facilitators and speech and occupational therapists, with support from AEIOU’s psychology team.”

As part of the partnership, CQUniversity students across a range of disciplines will be working with AEIOU to develop vital communication, social and motor skills and strategies to enable autistic children to cope with their environment.

Dean of Education at CQUniversity, Professor Helen Huntly said education programs at CQUniversity have a component that deals with special education needs, and she is hopeful that there will be scope for positive and productive research partnerships to be developed.

“It is hoped that education students may be offered an opportunity to assist and perhaps observe educational practices at the centre for the purpose of learning first-hand the most contemporary ways of teaching and learning in relation to children with autism,” she said.

Professor Huntly said with diagnosed autism on the rise in regional Queensland, it is fundamental for the new era of prospective teachers to be equipped with the skills to manage the disorder. “It is vital that parents and teachers receive the best possible support to maximize positive outcomes for the children.”

For families like the Farrellys, the Early Intervention Centre will be a breath of fresh air. Cynthia has been advocating for a specialised centre since her eldest son Finley was diagnosed with autism in 2008.

“Our private therapist services in Bundaberg are full of dedicated, wonderful and understanding people, but have started waiting lists and were only able to offer fortnightly sessions.”

Cynthia knew her youngest child Oliver was displaying signs characteristic of autism at 12 months old and enrolled him in the AEIOU Early Intervention program. Oliver has just turned three and has been attending AEIOU for nearly three months.

“The changes in him are amazing and the therapists who have known him for two years can’t believe how much he has progressed. He has gone from a child who would just go out to the backyard spraying the plants with a water bottle for hours and head banging walls to playing rocket ships and building cities out of blocks in the playroom and asking questions and wanting to try new things.

“I can’t express how much AEIOU has changed my family’s life. I have finally found a place that understands my child and his needs. Most of all, I can just be mum, not therapist.”