Health services failing children living with autism

Autism New Zealand says the public health system is not doing enough to detect the disability earlier for people to receive the right support.

Kirsti Whalen-Stickley from Autism New Zealand says the public health system fail to diagnose, identify and support children early, hindering their chance to reach their full potential.

Global data indicates a person with ASD (autism spectrum disorder) has a higher chance of living an independent life if they are diagnosed during early stages.

Autism NZ says there is not enough research or statistics generated on ASD in New Zealand, which shows the government cannot determine the level of support required.

Gaylene Chamber’s 11-year-old son, Rikki Chambers was diagnosed with autism at the age of three.

Mrs Chambers was fortunate enough that CCS, a national disability action provided support for her son at an early age.

In Rikki’s early years of preschool, his teachers noticed a few differences between him and the other kids.

If not discovered then, his autism would not have been picked up until primary school.

"Because we were told that it was an early intervention we could get assistance from CCS disability action, where they brought in a teacher aide, speech and language therapist and occupational therapists.  They came into his preschool for two hours a day, and he received one on one attention."

Autism NZ says several children do not receive a diagnosis until they attend primary school and by then it’s too late.

Mrs Chambers says the government need to change the Autism diagnosis as she had to wait four months for a $350 appointment with a private paediatrician.

“A lot of people in the community cannot afford that and going through the public system could take between six to 12 months.”

Associate Health Minister, Julie Anne Genter says the previous Government allowed waiting times for early intervention assessments to escalate, so families and children were unable to access further services.

“The Ministry of Health and Ministry of Education are now working together to better integrate our early intervention services.”

She says that this Government will be putting more money into the health system.

“We are playing catch up due to nine long years of underfunding.”

With it being Autism Awareness Week Mrs Chamber wants to bring greater awareness and acceptance of the disease.