Resources for families
- The new ‘Early Intervention for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: Guidelines for Best Practice 2012' by Margot Prior and Jacqueline Roberts is now available from the FaHCSIA website.
- OTARC's position paper on the changes to the DSM diagnostic criteria for Autism Spectrum Disorders (Summary): Towards a new definition of Autism - Changes to the DSM diagnostic criteria.
- The Early Diagnostic Clinic (EDC) associated with OTARC specialises in the early assessment for Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) in children up to 36 months.
- The Victorian Autism Specific Early Learning and Care Centre – Margot Prior Wing (ASELCC – MPW) at La Trobe University was funded by the Federal Government under the Helping Children with Autism Package and provides early learning programs and specific support for children with an ASD aged 0-6 in a long day care setting.
- Support for students with ASD: information for university and TAFE students diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders (ASD), including Asperger’s syndrome and high-functioning autism.
- You can write to us with specific questions about ASD via ask a researcher.
- You can become a friend of OTARC and subscribe to our quarterly newsletter to find out about our most recent activities and research findings.
- Meet & Greet for Grandparents of Children with ASD held at the OTARC in 2011 [PDF 385 KB].
We are also on Facebook and Twitter where we post up-to-date information and news from our centre and from other relevant sources.
External links
Information about diagnostic, early intervention, educational services and other support by other organisations:
Autism organisations in your State or Territory
Government Departments
If you can’t find specific information about ASDs on Government Department websites, type 'autism' or 'disabilities' into their search facility. This will usually provide you with a list of websites and documents of interest.
The Federal Government Department is the Department for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA).
The State and Territory Government Departments are:
Victoria
- Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (DEECD) for children up to 18 years of age.
- Department of Human Service (DHS) for adults over age 18.
New South Wales
Queensland
Western Australia
South Australia
Tasmania
Northern Territory
ACT
Other national support networks and associations
- Raising Children Network – Children with Autism
- Early Days Workshops
- Positive Partnerships
- Australian Autism Handbook
- Autism Aspergers Advocacy Australia A4
- The Association for Children with a Disability (ACD)
- Children with Disability Australia (CDA)
- Autism Awareness
- Autism Noticeboard
- Your local council may also have information on services for persons with an ASD.
Other helpful sites
- Autism Watch: This is an American site that gives scientific evaluations of therapies and treatments that claim to help individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders and their families.
- Baby Steps Early Identification video: Early recognition of developmental disabilities such as autism is key for parents and providers. This video is part of a campaign to help parents measure their children's progress by monitoring how they play, learn, speak and act. (4.32 mins)
- The Canadian Autism Intervention Research Network (CAIRN). This website was created so that knowledge about what works and what doesn’t could be communicated to as many people as possible. The CAIRN website continues to be a source of the latest and best evidence on autism for parents and others looking for quality information they can trust.
- Interactive Autism Network (USA): The Interactive Autism Network (IAN) is an innovative online project bringing together people affected by autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) and researchers in a search for answers. Individuals with ASD and their families can share information in a secure setting to become part of the largest online autism research effort in the United States.
- The National Autistic Society (UK): The NAS (UK) champion the rights and interests of all people with autism and aim to provide individuals with autism and their families with help, support and services that they can access, trust and rely upon and which can make a positive difference to their lives.
