Autism Behavioural Intervention NSW (ABINSW)

Autism Behavioural Intervention NSW (ABINSW)

Autism Behavioural Intervention NSW (ABINSW)

Autism Behavioural Intervention Association NSW (ABI) is a not for profit organization that provides autism specific intervention services for families with children that have an autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

OUR VISION

Helping families face the challenges of autism

OUR MISSION

ABINSW uses a family focused model to provide high quality and practical services to children with autism and their families. Our mission is to use evidence based practices to empower families with the necessary tools to support their child's learning and development.

OUR VALUES

• Family focused
• Evidence-based practices
• Collaborative team work approach
• Individually tailored programs
• Family empowerment
• Cultural sensitivity

ABI uses evidence based practices to empower families with the tools and strategies to successfully support their child's learning and development and integration into family and community settings.

ABI was established in 2006 to fill a gap in the ability for families to access services in the outer suburbs of Sydney and more specifically, access the evidence based behavioural intervention services which were otherwise only available through private service providers at a high cost to families.

ABI's services are largely funded by the NSW Government through the Department of Aging Disability and Home Care but only in respect of children under the age of 6 years old. ABI has provided services to over 120 families since 2006 and have funding available to provide services to a further 300 families over the coming 3 years.

While ABI is grateful for the Government funding, the NSW Government does not provide infrastructure support and funding for building ABI's service capacity. ABI's ability to service the 300 families and for us to grow and access additional available funding, is dependent on our ability to raise funds to increase our service capacity.

Funds to be raised:

• $20,000 will provide training and supervision of a new Behaviour Support Educator. A trained Behaviour Support Educator would mean an additional 20 families would be able to access ABI's Family Support Services Program each year.
• $20,000 will enable the set up and running of an office in Wollongong for over a year and ensure the timely establishment of ABI's presence on the South Coast. ABI's aim is to run up to 60 Family Support Services Programs over the next 3 years in Wollongong and its surrounding districts.
• $20,000 will provide ABI with a specialist speech therapist to work with ABI families up to one day a week to strengthen the multidisciplinary nature of our programs.
• $6,000 will provide a family with a child with autism that is older than 6 years of age access to our Family Support Services Program (a program funded by DADHC only until a child reaches the age of 6 years).
• $2,000 will provide a family with up to 15 hours of follow up services after completion of the Family Support Services program. DADHC's funding only permits us to work with families over 6 months.

The Family Support Services (FSS) program

The FSS program is a 40 hour program over 20 weeks. This program covers family theory and practical training. It involves direct intervention at home, day care/preschool and in the general community where families ordinarily participate (shopping, places of worship, sport etc). During visits, families, teachers and carers are taught the skills in dealing with a number of target areas chosen by the family in collaboration with their ABI Behaviour Support Educator. These target areas may include the following:

• Reduction of challenging behaviours
• Communication skills
• Increasing attention
• Pre- academics and academics
• School skills
• Socialization and relationship building
• Gross and fine motor skills
• Self help/independent living skills
• Community access skills

Further information is available at www.abinsw.org.au and they can be contacted by phone on (02) 9669 2250 or email at info@abinsw.org.au.