A Macedon Ranges support group has floated the idea of putting a specialist facility in the new Kyneton education precinct amid reports that the needs of students with autism are not being met.
In some cases, local schools have told parents they could only guarantee a pupil’s safety for three hours a day.
Other parents have spoken of frustration about schools having widely ranging levels of staff awareness of autism, which affects about 1 in 60 children.
Autism is a condition characterised by difficulty in communicating, forming relationships, using language and under- standing abstract concepts. While often quite intelligent, some children with autism are known to wander.
Urging parents to make a submission to a state government review into the education of children with special needs, Macedon Ranges Central Victorian Autism Network spokeswoman Fiona Le Nepveu said the life of some parents was made harder through autism-specific schooling in Jacana or Laverton being available only to people living south of Gisborne.
Children are typically not eligible for broader specialist schools, such as those in Sunbury and Bendigo, unless they also have an intellectual disability.
‘‘It puts many people in such a difficult position,’’ said Ms Le Nepveu, who met Macedon MP Mary-Anne Thomas following recent education forums held across the electorate.
‘‘We had a talk about whether there were opportunities – with the education hub to be built in Kyneton, with satellite schools or some kind of additional services,’’ Ms Le Nepveu said.
She said that while there was a major focus on early intervention, support for families often vanished once a child reached school age.
‘‘We’re also seeing a lot of kids in upper primary, the social skills are getting more intense and there’s a lot of bullying and some schools just don’t know how to manage that behaviour.’’
Ms Thomas said she would continue to advocate for children with autism.
Submissions to the government’s special needs plan close on September 11.
Click here for details.
