The Math of Autism

Autism.  The numbers are alarming and speak for themselves.

• 1 in 5 Australians has a disability.[i]

• Every two hours, an Australian child is diagnosed with an intellectual disability. [ii] 

• 64,000 Australians have autism. This rate has doubled over a five year period.[iii] 

• Over 4000 children are diagnosed with autism by the time they are four. [iv] 

• Currently, children aged 5-14 have the highest prevalence of autism in Australia. [v] 

• Almost 11,000 children aged between 6 and 12 have autism spectrum disorders in Australia.[vi] 

• Over half a million Australian families are affected by autism spectrum disorders. [vii] 

• 85 per cent of children are diagnosed with autism once their learning difficulties are recognised at school. [viii] 

• Children who receive early intervention preschool therapies have a 1 in 3 chance of being able to enter the mainstream education system and go on to lead a normal productive life with little if any special support.

• Intervention therapies effectively remediate the challenges of autism and they are able to function without experiencing limitations in their everyday activities. [ix]

• It costs over $30,000 annually for a child to receive early intervention therapies before they start school. That equates to up to $180,000. Families currently foot that bill.

So what’s the answer to this equation? Government   funding. We urge all Lions Clubs in Australia make representations to the Federal Government to raise financial support for early intervention preschool autism education and therapy provided by health professionals to a minimum of $30,000 per annum per child, claimable through Medicare and /or other government agencies.

We also ask Lions to see what they can do to help early intervention preschool autism spectrum disorders groups in their local areas across Australia. ASD groups in general are short of funding. Let us assist the 12,000 plus children under six who have ASD.

Letters for Lions Clubs to use to write to all levels of government across Australia to advocate for increased ASD funding are located here.