The Disability Information and Resource Centre

Media Release

JENNY MACKLIN MP

Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs

NICOLA ROXON MP

Minister for Health and Ageing

BRENDAN O’CONNOR MP

Acting Minister of Education

BILL SHORTEN MP

Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Children’s Services

25 June 2008

$190 million boost for children with autism and their families

All children aged six and under who are diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and are not yet at school will have access to up to $12,000 in essential early intervention support, through a landmark $190 million package funded by the Australian Government.

The package is the first national initiative to help families deal with this challenging disorder and is a major breakthrough in support for children and their families.

Under the four year Helping Children with Autism package to be rolled out from next month, an estimated 9,000 children diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder will be eligible to receive up to $6,000 per year for two years before they go to primary school.

Parents will now be able to choose the early intervention measures that best suit their child from a range of authorised service providers. And they will be supported by up to 40 new Autism advisors across Australia providing advice, information and practical help following diagnosis.

Because of the additional challenges they face, families in rural and remote areas will be eligible for an additional $2,000 to help their children benefit from early intervention services, as well as training, respite and other resources.

Helping Children with Autism will give greater access to a range of early intervention programs including one-on-one intensive activities, behavioural therapies and tailored group and individual programs.

The package also includes:

Medicare rebates for ASD diagnosis and 20 visits to allied health professionals such as occupational therapists and psychologists for children aged up to 12 years old;

• 150 playgroups specifically for families and children with ASDs;
• Professional development for 450 teachers and school staff to support students with ASDs; and
• Workshops and information for parents and carers of pre-school and school aged children with ASDs, including an ASD website.

In addition, the Government is establishing six new autism-specific child care centres as part of the broader Government commitment to provide up to 260 new child care centres nationally.

Today’s announcement builds on the $1.9 billion funding boost to disability support services in partnership with the States and Territories which will deliver more than 24,500 additional disability places, including:

• around 2,300 in-home support services;
• 2,300 supported accommodation places;
• 9,900 individual support packages; and
• 10,000 much needed respite places in a range of forms across Australia.

Yes, anyone can get a brain injury, even small children and infants.

Brain injury is also known as:

• Acquired Brain Injury
• Traumatic Brain Injury
• Head Injury
• Acquired Cerebral Insult
• Drug and Alcohol Related Brain Injury

Brain Injury: A Definition

Brain injury is not a disease or something you can “catch”. Brain Injury is defined as a loss of brain function caused by:

Accidents

• road accident
• sport and/or work related
• assaults

Poisoning

• drinking too much alcohol
• overuse of prescribed drugs
• use of illegal drugs
• petrol and chemical sniffing

Stroke

• rupture of a blood vessel in the brain
• blockage of blood supply to the brain

Brain tumours

• cancerous
• non-cancerous

Infections

• meningitis
• encephalitis

Lack of oxygen

• near drowning
• severe asthma attack
• lack of blood flow to the brain

A brain injury can have very serious effects on the lives of children who sustain the injury and the people who support and assist them.

The Statistics

Each year in NSW, about 10,000 people will sustain a Traumatic Brain Injury. 70% of these injuries will be caused by motor vehicle accidents.

Of all the injuries about 1,000 people will have a permanent disability, and, about 300 will have a severe disability.

Over 3,000 children either die or are injured in traffic accidents each year.

What Can You Do If You Think A Child Has Had A Brain Injury?

If a child has suffered a brain injury, however mild, and develops any of the following symptoms report immediately to your local doctor or a hospital:

• Headache
• Giddiness
• Nausea or vomiting
• Drowsiness

You may notice other changes in the child during the months after the injury. For example:

• Difficulty with new school work or new activities.
• Difficulty concentrating or remembering instructions.
• Slowness in thinking about new things.
• Changes in their ability to join in the same games and activities as they used to.
• Changes in their ability to understand what was said or follow a conversation.
• Changes in their ability to re-tell the day’s events or find the right word.
• Inappropriate sexual discussions or activities.

How Can You Help Children Avoid Brain Injury?

• Encourage them to wear a correctly fitted and fastened helmet or stack-hat when using skates, roller-blades, push-bikes and skateboards and riding a horse or mini-bike.

• Encourage Councils to provide safety fencing and speed humps near schools.

• Encourage children to cross at traffic lights when going to and from school.

• Ensure swimming pools are safely fenced and covered.

• Keep ladders, tools, chemicals and paints safely stored where children cannot get to them.

• Supervise small children when they play in the yard to make sure they don’t run on to the street and get hit by a motor vehicle (a major cause of injury).

• Always place containers of water or fluids where children cannot reach them. Only give a child medication prescribed by a doctor.

• Put your medication or alcohol where the children cannot reach them. Drive carefully and keep your speed under the limits.

• Teach young adults how to enjoy a drink without getting drunk

• Encourage children and young adults not to experiment with drugs or chemicals.

* Source : Brain Injury Association of NSW

Buyer’s Guide

When selecting a buggy to transport your child in it is useful to consider both the needs of the child and the carer. It should be safe and supportive for your child and as easy to handle as possible for you. There are a range of buggies currently available in the market-place which have been designed for children with physical disabilities. A thoughtful selection will minimise the manual handling risks for parents and provide the most comfortable ride for children. Features of the buggy that can be considered include:

* Frame Weight - lightweight buggies are easier to lift and move about
* Folded shape - look for a product that is compact, easy to store and comfortable to lift/carry
* Folding technique - ease with which buggy can be folded for transport including location of release locks and difficulty of operation, locks situated at the side are more accessible than those located beneath the seat
* Size and width - impact of dimensions in relation to environments that the buggy is intended to be used in (ie. Will a wide buggy fit through shopping aisles?)
* Load capacity - ensure that it will it cater for your child in the future as their weight increases
* Ease of steering
* Stability - avoid anything tippy, check how stability is affected when carry bags are added to the buggy
* Bumper bar - removable or opening bumper bar can make transfers easier

Wheels
* Size - large wheels are easier to handle over uneven terrain but can make the buggy more bulky for storage
* Style - pneumatic tyres absorb impacts better than solid tyres but run the risk of punctures
* Number of wheels - 3 wheeled buggies may be more manoeuvrable but less stable than their 4 wheeled counterparts
* Swivel wheels located at the front of the buggy make manoeuvring easier
* If considering a reversible handle look for swivel wheels at the rear as well as the front and brakes mounted on all wheels

Backrest
* Recline or semi-recline function - allows more choice in positioning which is particularly useful for a sleeping child whereas the upright position is more stimulating and functional for the awake child
* Ease of adjustment and number of recline positions available

Push Handle
* Height adjustable - a useful feature if more than one carer is going to be pushing the buggy
* Reversible handle - enables the carer to have a child facing them at all times and to avoid the sun shining in the child’s eyes, to be effective in both directions requires rear swivel wheels and front brakes

Brakes
* Brakes that are linked by a bar need minimal effort to engage as only a single action is required
* Foot brakes reduce bending and are generally easy to engage

Harness
* Operation – needs to be easy to manipulate for parent but not for the child
* Support - 5 point harness with two shoulder straps, a waist and crotch strap should be the minimal amount of support considered
* Adjustable strap lengths - accommodate your growing child

Footrest
* Footrest itself reduces the chance of a child’s feet being injured by being caught in a wheel or dragging along floor
* Foot cups - keep feet in place (particularly if legs or feet are flaccid or spastic)
* Adjustability allows for growth

Customisation Potential
* Advantages - enables specialised seating needs to be met as well as accommodating growth in children
* Inbuilt adjustability - seat depth, seat width, foot plate drop and angle, tilt of seat, recline of back rest, knee angle, seat orientation
* Supplier customisation – can a seating system be fitted?
* Seating supports - head supports, lateral supports, pommels, postural supports and seating inserts
* Accessories - weather protection (sun canopy, boot cover, rain cover),storage ( baskets, pockets), trays

Maintenance
* Upholstery – is it removable for cleaning
* Tyres – pneumatic tyres run the risk of puncture thus a pump should be kept handy

For further information or to make an appointment to visit the display area please contact the Independent Living Centre: www.ilc.asn.au/

*Source: Disability SA Independent Living Centre