Autism help not easy | Fraser Coast Health | Fitness and Medical News in Fraser Coast

WHEN Susan Abel picked up the phone to inquire about how to get her hands on new government funding for autism services, she was surprised to find she was on her own - so to speak.

Susan, whose four-year-old son Sean has autism, was the only person from the Fraser Coast region to have registered her interest in the groundbreaking $12,000 funding announced last November.

Almost 12 months later and the Hervey Bay mum wants parents in the same situation to know what's out there.

An autism services information night to be held next Wednesday night in Hervey Bay will make parents of children with autism aware of what the Department of Communities has to offer.

Susan got her first hint of the possibilities when Kate McCarthy from Fraser Coast OT for Kids presented her with a brochure.

“I spent lots of hours on the internet. I had the luxury of having the time to do it. Some people just don't have that time,” Ms Abel said.

“Unless you're in the loop, you're never going to find out and you end up being missed out.

“It has made an extraordinarily positive difference to our lives. Hopefully others can have the same experience.”

She is hopeful that next week's information night will enable parents who have previously struggled to realise what is available, including up to $12,000 in grants for an early intervention program through the government.

“When Sean was diagnosed with autism last year, it was just so overwhelming.

“Just taking care of him on a daily basis kept me busy and although there was so much information available, I didn't know what I was supposed to do to help him.

“I really expected my paediatrician would tell me what I had to do to fix it. So I was shocked when I was handed the diagnosis and a few bits of paper and told to come back in six months.”

Last week the Helping Children with Autism program was extended to include children up to the age of seven, a government move to acknowledge the program's slower roll-out to regional Queensland.

Next Wednesday's info night starts at 7pm at Hervey House at Hervey Bay RSL and will be attended by representatives of Autism Queensland.

“This is about a community helping itself. We are educating ourselves, working with the government and looking at it positively.”

For further information on the info night, call educational child psychologist Cleo on 4194 5944.