Provincial Government Recognizes World Autism Awareness Day

Autism Spectrum Disorder is a complex, lifelong condition that affects individuals from all walks of life, as well as their families, friends and caregivers. Today (Tuesday, April 2) is World Autism Awareness Day, which is focused on raising awareness of autism throughout society and to encourage early diagnosis and intervention.

“World Autism Awareness Day creates an opportunity to acknowledge the impact that autism has on individuals and their families,” said the Honourable Susan Sullivan, Minister of Health and Community Services. “As a government, we continue to work with our partners and invest in quality health care and medical services to support children, youth and their families in the home and in their communities as they transition through each stage of their lives.”

Approximately $11.5 million is invested annually, through the Departments of Health and Community Services, and Education to provide programs and services for children with autism. Since 2005, the Provincial Government has added positions throughout the regional health authorities which have increased capacity for physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech language pathology and audiology services. Additional investments have also recently allowed for the extension of the Applied Behavioural Analysis program for children with autism from school entry to Grade 3.

The Honourable Clyde Jackman, Minister of Education, noted that students who have been diagnosed with autism have access to a wide range of human resources within the education system, including special education teachers, speech language pathologists, autism itinerants, student assistants, and classroom teachers – and contrary to misinformation being circulated to the media by the NDP Education Critic, none of those supports have been reduced as a result of the Budget 2013 process.

“The Provincial Government is continuing its support for students with autism, including the provision of assistive technologies, where required, and specific programming developed to address social skills, communication, and academic skills,” said Minister Jackman. “The department is also providing support for autism itinerants from school districts around the province to attend a learning forum in Halifax later this month, as part of our ongoing support for professional development related to autism. More than $1 million has been invested in autism-related professional development for educators since 2009.”

The forum, Advancing Capacity through Collaborative Learning, is being hosted by the Autism in Education Project, Atlantic Provinces Special Education Authority and will be attended by autism specialists from school districts from the four Atlantic Provinces. This interprovincial collaboration enables the sharing of best practice, professional development, training, and resources that will help ensure each province operates at the highest, leading edge standard.

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2013 04 02                           3:55 p.m.