Study highlights lack of services in the North for autistic children

Nearly 3,000 autistic children in the North face a severe lack of statutory services, a new report claimed today.

Parents are having to wait longer for a diagnosis and are routinely let down by schools and hospitals, according to research.

Diagnosis and the assessment for Special Educational Needs Statement (SENS) takes on average 26 months and distressed parents are not receiving sufficient support and information during and after the diagnosis.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a lifelong condition that affects how a person communicates with, and relates to, other people.

As well as abnormalities of social interaction, those with autism also tend to have a disability. Those with Asperger syndrome can have average or above average intelligence, but still have difficulty in making sense of the world.

The condition can be characterised by having highly repetitive behaviour and several restrictive interests.

In Ireland and the North, it is estimated that one in 100 children are on the autism spectrum.

The report ’Meeting the Needs of Families Living with Children Diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder’ was compiled by the University of Ulster, Queen’s University and autism charity, PEAT.

A major concern is schooling, according to the report. Most parents are unsatisfied with school provision while most home tuition programmes are run largely by parents on their own, with little input from statutory professionals.

Dr Karol Dillenburger from the School of Sociology, Social Policy and Social Work at Queen’s said: “Nearly 3,000 school age children in the North have Autism, and it is thought that more than 300 children born every year will be diagnosed with the condition. The lack of evidence based treatment for these children is unacceptable.”

The research was collected in Ireland and the North and 95 parents representing 100 children with ASD and 67 multi-disciplinary professionals took part.

Amongst the recommendations of the report are:

:: Quicker diagnosis of children with ASD

:: Better training for staff involved in making diagnosis

:: Early intervention and regular revision of children’s educational and care plans

:: More support for Applied Behavioural Analysis training and education

:: Better parent/professional partnerships.

The report also claimed that parents of children with ASD experienced considerably more psychological distress than the general population and having a child with ASD restricted families in pursuing personal, educational, occupational, and employment interests.

The report claimed a severe lack of statutory service provision in Northern Ireland.

Dr Mickey Kennan from the University of Ulster’s School of Psychology said: “There are deficiencies in the formation of parent/professional partnerships; prolonged waiting times for diagnosis and the issuing of Special Educational Needs Statements and the absence of a coherent view on science based policy and practice.”

He added: “Whilst parents and professionals largely agreed about future needs, there were some discrepancies with regard to the basis of interventions. The research uncovered considerable lack of knowledge and application of the science of behaviour analysis amongst professionals that can be directly linked to the non inclusion of suitably qualified behaviour analysts in local governmental reviews and reports.”