By Kerri-Anne Mesner
DELAYS in moving to a permanent home have disrupted the routines of Alpha Autism’s Keilor clients and taken its toll on their parents.
Alpha Autism applied to Brimbank City Council to move into the Christ Church Keilor building on the corner of Church and Kennedy streets, Keilor, after its site, the Keilor Scout Hall, became too cold for comfort.
There were at least four objections to the move from Keilor residents concerned with absconding autistic adults and noise.
The council approved the application but the original objectors are taking the matter to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT), with the hearing set for 29 and 30 October.
Alpha Autism chief executive officer Tracel Devereux said the clients had already been in temporary accommodation for the past six months, with most travelling to Altona North and Northcote five days a week.
She said parents had started complaining their autistic adult children were showing signs of fatigue and exhaustion, which led to anxiety, uncertainness, lack of concentration, not eating properly and general unhappiness.
Ms Devereux said Alpha Autism and the parents were concerned about the effects the further delay could have until the matter was resolved.
“At this stage we are still proceeding (with the VCAT hearing) but we are getting extremely concerned about our clients,” she said.
Ms Devereux said not only were clients having to travel to Alpha Autism sites in Altona North and Northcote but the organisation was still trying to ensure they maintained their connection with the Keilor community by taking them back there for some activities.
Child psychiatrist Dr Michael Welham, who has worked with autistic adolescents, said people with autism had a strong need for routine and predictability in their lives.
“If it is at all possible, changes should be avoided,” Dr Welham said.
The majority of people with autism were quite withdrawn, he said, with some having social awkwardness.
Dr Welham said screaming and making loud noises tended to occur only in children with autism and became less frequent with adults in a program such as the services provided by Alpha Autism.
Autistic adults who required such services — usually people with autism and an intellectual disability — could cause distress for parents if such a service was not provided as they saw their children becoming more withdrawn because of a lack of social interaction.
“People need to be supportive of such people (autistic) to be active in the community,” Dr Welham said.
“Provision of services within the community (that they live) is very clearly the most desirable option.”
