By Laura Wakely
THE NUMBER of students with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in the West has increased by almost 60 per cent over four years.
There were 686 students supported with an ASD as their primary disability in the Western Metropolitan Region in 2010, compared to 391 in 2006.
The findings were presented last week in a long-awaited report on education for students with autism in the West.
The findings of the study, which began in February this year, were due to be released in June, but were only revealed last Tuesday after Western Metropolitan MP Colleen Hartland won a motion to have the report released.
The report also revealed 77 per cent of the autistic students are in their primary years, and warns there would be “increased pressure” on secondary schools to provide for these students in the coming years.
In addition, 55 per cent of students from Prep to Grade 3 attend specialist schools, while 86 per cent of students in Grades 4 to 12 attend mainstream schools.
Community consultation revealed the major concern for the West was to have their own P-12 ASD school, as promised by the Baillieu Government.
The report also found that 75 per cent of students with an ASD in the live in the West; Wyndham (24 per cent), Brimbank (32 per cent) and Melton (19 per cent), with nine per cent in Hobsons Bay and seven per cent in Maribyrnong.
Ms Hartland said the report was not big, but provided parents and families of students with ASD with “leverage” for their P-12 school.
“It clearly indicates that there is already a problem in terms of providing services to families with children with ASD,” Ms Hartland said.
“It clearly shows we need a school.”
But she said the building of a P-12 ASD school is only the beginning.
“The issue is that some kids really need the P-12 and some kids need the mainstream,” she said.
“Everything I hear from the parents is that it can’t be a one size fits all.”
