Services and Professional Development for ASD

The complex nature of ASD requires a comprehensive range of services to support the individual with ASD, their family and the whole team working with them. A book published by Autism New Zealand in the 1990s referred to autism cases being quite rare, occurring in New Zealand at a rate of 1 in 10,000. Figures released by them in 2012 reports autism rates rising to 1 in 100 equating to 40,000 people in New Zealand on the autistic spectrum (Street, 2012). Despite the exponential increase in identified cases of autism and research in this field, community services have not increased at the same rate, creating long waiting lists and some areas of the country being less well provided for. The frustration of waiting lists is apparent in this correspondence from a family I work with: The problem I've had with CDS is although they are a great resource for family, the very second that a family thinks there may be a problem and they may wish to use the therapists at CDS, to talk to their pediatrician because there is a very long waiting list. It took about 9 months to get in to see [therapist ]. (personal correspondence, email, 22nd September, 2013) There is a growing number of services to select from in New Zealand, but identifying and accessing an appropriate service can be stressful and confusing for families. The internet offers links to New Zealand registers for ASD related services, however, the availability of these services varies according to location. The Altogether Autism site lists 525 services across New Zealand, 137 available in Auckland and 85 available in Nelson/Marlborough. The Weka Disability Information site lists 1597 services in total, 391 of these listed under Intellectual and Learning Disabilities , 59 of these in Auckland and 14 of them in Nelson/Marlborough. The Weka site also has a useful Resources for Mori section. Having someone to coordinate services support for families is vitally important. In Nelson this is the role of the Autism Spectrum Disorder Co-ordinator at Child Development Services, part of the Nelson and Marlborough District Health Board. However, access to services remains a confusing landscape for many families who are already under a great deal of stress. [The ASD Co-ordinator at CDS]is a great point of contact but I also had to be referred to her from my pediatrician, I'm not entirely sure whether she's "open to the public" so to speak either. (personal correspondence, email, 22nd September, 2013) The table below lists services, agencies and contacts for families who have a child, or children, with ASDin the Nelson area. This was developed as an artefact in Domain 2 and has been adapted to indicate services which I have already used and those which I would like to investigate further and develop links with.1additional service has been added to the list: Grandparents Raising Grandparents: I have a child with ASD characteristics, but no diagnosis, in my current class and he will be remaining with me in 2014. He is being cared for by his grandfather who has recently been widowed. I would like to explore what this organisation could offer in the way of support for him.

Although this list was originally created with families in mind, it also acts as a resource for school staff and a reminder of the services available both within the Ministry of Education and beyond. For example I have a child with ASD joining my new entrant class next year. After revisiting this list I have requested 2014 dates for Tips for Autism courses being run in the Nelson area. These provide a great way to get a childs

team working collaboratively and setting meaningful, achievable goals for the child right from the start of their school life.

Useful people and agencies pre and post ASD diagnosis Nelson Central School
Services I have used Services I want to find out more about

Agency or Professional ASD Child Development Service Services CoPaula Meers ordination Autism Spectrum Disorder Co-ordinator Paediatrician Nelson Marlborough District Health Board

Field

Acronym and Logo CDS

Role Advise and support families through diagnosis and post diagnosis processes

Contact details (03) 5461704 Nelson Hospital Tipahi St Nelson 7010 (03) 5461210 Nelson Hospital Tipahi St Nelson 7010

NMDHB

Development

Child Development Services Nelson Marlborough District Health Board

CDS

Education

Ministry of Education, Special Education Ministry of Education, Special Education Facilitator Hilary Clifton Early Intervention Teacher

MoE.SE

Diagnosis Prognosis Advice Treatment Specialist referral Medication Therapy, management, information, support in the home and community, in partnership with caregivers. Speech Language Therapist Social Worker Occupational Therapist Physiotherapist Neuro-developmental therapist Provides services in the early childhood sector and schools Assists students, parents and schools with communication issues that may occur Prepares children with special educational needs and their family for starting and settling into school. Work with educators to develop and implement childrens education programmes. Provide 1-1 support to the child to access education in early childhood

(03) 5461211 Nelson Hospital Tipahi St Nelson 7010

(03)5463470 Email: hilary.clifton@minedu.g ovt.nz

EIT

Education Support Worker

ESW

Nelson Central School Special Education Needs Coordinator

NCS

SENCO

Class Teacher

Speech and Language Needs

Speech and language therapist Ministry of Education

SLT

MoE

Family Education around ASD

TIPS for Autism

Support Works

education centres (ECE) Hold regular Individual Education Plans (IEP) Coordinates programs for children with moderate and high needs, supporting families, child and staff Facilitate access to school curriculum. Liaise with Early Intervention Teacher (EIT), GSE, RTLB and parents to set educational and development goals Provides advice and support to school and families around communication needs. Support implementation of strategies and communication goals. A free 3 day course attended by the childs team to support children with ASD from 5-12 years old. Course dates available on website Needs assessment and service coordination for respite care and other potential supports.

(03) 5484972 70 Nile Street Nelson email: office@nelsoncentral.sch ool.nz

http://www.tipsforautis m.org.nz

Tautoko Services Family Support John Ford

Work and Income New Zealand

WINZ

Behaviour support Charitable Trust TACTICs is the therapy and assessment service of Tautoko Services. It provides a range of user pay services. Referrals can be made by organisations or directly by families. Child disability allowance 22 Bridge St Nelson 0800 559 009

1 Harley Street Nelson 7010 Tel: (03)5393976 Freephone: 0800 244300 Email: Support.works@nmdnb. govt.nz http://tautoko.org.nz Phone: (03) 546 7038 email: johnford@tautoko.org.n z

Autism New Zealand Nelson-Marlborough Field Officer: Viv Nelson

Advice and support for families (03) 5390285 with children with ASD viv.nelson@autismnz.org Parent support group .nz Events and activities for families

Altogether Autism

Information and advice to individuals with ASD and their families A support and information network for families with children with special needs. It provides information, courses and support groups Strengthening Families facilitates multiple organisations coming together with a family/whnau to plan and organise services Free support for families, whanau and carers of people with a major mental illness. Provides information, resources, education, advocacy, social and educational support groups, referral to other services, and newsletters. Support individuals with autism and Aspergersas well as their families, carers, teachers. National and regional Wide range of information and services including ASD Plus listed below Free programme for preschool aged children diagnosed with ASD. It is delivered by IDEA Auckland based support services for the disabled (funding for carers) Provides information in Maori, Samoan, Tongan, Cook Island, Niuean, Hindi, Mandarin and more Offering a range of treatments, interventions, support and advice around behaviour management.

Parent to Parent

0800 273463 email: nelson@altogetherautis m.org.nz (03) 546 8973 email: nelson@parent2parent.o rg.nz Nelson Bays Primary Health Organisation, 20 New St, Nelson 7010
(03) 539 1170

Strengthening Families Vonnie Marshall

vonnie.marshall@nbph.o rg.nz 50 Halifax Street Nelson (03) 546 6090 emails: fieldworker@sfnelson.or g.nz office@sfnelson.org.nz

SF Nelson (Supporting Families in Mental Health) Vicky Pomeroy Kathryn Newman

Cloud 9 Childrens Foundation Aspergers Syndrome IHC/IDEA Services

http://withyoueverystepoft heway.com/

575 Main Road Stoke Nelson (03) 548 4479

ASD Plus Education for families

Taikura Trust

Freephone 0800 TAIKURA (0800 824 5872) email: info@taikura.org.nz

Child and adolescent mental Health Services Clinical Psychologist

CAMHS

Care Solutions

Care coordinator assists in finding appropriate trained and vetted respite carers

Haines Building, Waimea Road, Nelson (03) 546 1788 email: carolyn.lock@nmha.govt .nz 1 Koru Place, Stoke, Nelson City, Nelson, 7011

(03) 5480888 (03) 5474830 Ahorangi Services Tim Powell Paula Todd Help and advice in the teaching and care of people with Autism, Asperger Syndrome, and different learning needs. Private health care service including: dietician, occupational therapist, psychologist, social worker, speech language therapist, teachers and coaches Listening training by certified Tomatis consultant and psychotherapist. Therapy for children with aspergers and autism and related disorders Support with parenting issues, child behaviour challenges, practical difficulties, grief, loss, stress and day to day concerns Songs, programs and books to develop social skills t.powell@ahorangi.com p.todd@ahorangi.com

Pelim Mary Anne Hewitt Passionate, Enthusiastic, Long term, Intervention, Management Joya Centre Pauline Aarts

(03) 5474999 email: Maryanne@pelim.co.nz

49 Brougham Street Nelson (03)539 1360

Family Support

Social Worker Lisa Williams Child Development Services ML Educational Maria Reid Latasha Griffin

CDS

(03) 546 1884 Nelson Hospital Tipahi St Nelson 7010

021 153 1742 (03) 544 7102

http://www.mleducation al.co.nz email: mariareid1@xtra.co.nz

http://www.cyf.govt.nz/

Child Youth and Family Ministry of Social Development

CYF MSD

CCS Disability Action

Grandparents Raising Grandparents

Helping families to help themselves. Links to many different groups and people giving families the support they need to help their children thrive. Supports and strengthens communities so people with disabilities are included in the life of the family and in their community. Supports grandparents raising grandchildren. Local branch in Nelson

http://www.ccsdisability action.org.nz/ 65 Trafalgar Street Nelson (03) 548 4479 http://www.grg.org.nz/ Member Support Manager: Diane Vivian Email:office@grg.org.nz (09) 480-6530 9:00am to 2.30pm

Legal issues and advocacy

Nelson Bays Community Law Service Lawyers Zindels

Offers free legal education

(03) 5481288 Toll free 0800 246 146

Legal aide

21 New Street Nelson (03) 5483268 email: office@zindels.co.nz Suite 3 83 Buxton Square Nelson (03) 5488171 111 Baldwin Road, RD1 Upper Moutere,Nelson Ph: 03 526 6229 Mob: 027 451 0178 E: peatfamily@xtra.co.nz www.autismdiet.com www.doctorgluten.com http://www.inclusivespo rt.org.nz/FH.html Heather phone (03)548 5955 email: heather@inclusivesport. org.nz Richmond (03) 546 6013 email: just.gym@xtra.co.nz (03) 544 8960 169 Champion Road, Richmond, Nelson (03) 544 8960 email: richmondrda@xtra.co.nz Richmond Aquatic Centre Richmond Nelson (03) 543 9755 email: aru@clmnz.co.nz 134 Rutherford Street, Nelson (03) 373 5050 justin@halberg.co.nz

Health Alternatives

Beneficiaries and Unwaged Workers Trust Nelson Jill Preston Martin Lewis Tasman Homeopathy Linda Peat Homeopath (NZCH)

Information and advice on welfare laws. Advocating for families who have problems with government agencies Find out more at http://www.homeopathy.co.n z

Gluten &Casein Free Diets Basket Ball Nelson

Advice and information on gluten free and casein free diets Fulton Hogan Basket Ball is for children age 10 and over with a disability

Sports and Recreation

Moving is Fun Linda & Steve Mace

Gymnastics based movement class for children with physical challenges including ASD Provides horse riding with many benefits around therapy, relationships, confidence building and self-esteem. Provides swimming lessons with trained instructors some of whom have experience working with children with ASD Funding to enable physically disabled to engage in sport

Riding for the Disabled Helen Wright

Swimming Lessons

Sport Tasman/Halberg Trust Justin Muschamp Disability Sport Coordinator

Adapted from information from: Personal communication with ASD families ASD RTLB Nelson Marlborough Region: Janet Mossop Autism New Zealand Inc A Guide for Parents of children with Disabilities: Nelson and Marlborough District Health Board Child Development Services, Nelson Marlborough: Autism Spectrum Disorder Co-ordinator, Paula Meers Websites that are linked in this document

References
Finding services. (n.d.). Retrieved October 2013, from Altogther Autism: ww.altogetherautism.org.nz/page/53-finding-services Street, D. (2012, August). Autism help at hand. Retrieved from stuff.co.nz: http://www.stuff.co.nz/auckland/local-news/auckland-city-harbour-news/7390288/Autism-helpat-hand Support services by region. (n.d.). Retrieved October 2013, from Weka Disability Information: http://www.weka.net.nz/support/by-region