Autism stretches schools

John Masanauskas From: Herald Sun June 24, 2010 12:00AM

VICTORIA'S education system is being stretched by a huge increase in the number of students diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.

More than 4000 autistic students receive about $84 million in taxpayer financing today - double the 2006 figures, according to Education Department data. The money is used in mainstream and specialist schools to support autistic students who are eligible for disability support. But some parents in the city's west are upset that a specialist autism school in Niddrie offers only four years of education while autistic students in other suburbs can go up to year 12.

Liz Websdale, who has two autistic children, said yesterday parents had been lobbying for years to have the Western Autistic School extended. 'We are told that these schools don't work, the best thing for your child is to do the four years and then move on to mainstream or special schools for the intellectually disabled,' she said.

'But then we find that in the eastern suburbs, Wantirna Heights, which used to be an autism school up to grade 6, is now being financed from prep to year 12.

'We've been asking for years and they get it after 18 months of pushing.'

Ms Websdale said she did not believe all autistic children needed to go to special schools, but that parents should have a choice.

Autism Victoria CEO Murray Dawson-Smith said while Government cash was welcome, authorities should do more to ensure mainstream schools were more supportive of children with the disorder.

'We'd like to see greater choice for families with things like early intervention and schools,' he said.

A department spokesman said Western Autistic School had a specific philosophy that involved a short-term intensive program focused on early intervention.

'(It then supports) students into mainstream and specialist schools throughout the region with ongoing specialist support,' he said.

The spokesman said that in addition to the $84 million given to support autistic students, $8.3 million over four years would be spent on an Autism State Plan.

In the May state Budget, the Northern School for Autism and Wantirna Heights School got $18 million in upgrades to amenities.