An Autism Plan forMauritius

Increasing awareness will lead

to more identification

• Estimated number of children with autism 13,000

• Adults will be identified too

• Demand for support and services will grow

• These children have potential and can be economically active or become a burden for the state

• All staff and agencies working with children need autism awareness

• Parents need a clear care pathway

• Early identification to diagnosis to management plan to IEP to employment support

• Many services/sectors can contribute

• No medical cure for a lifelong condition

Multi-agency working

• Essential to avoid duplication and confusion

• Team around the child and family- key worker

• Autism therapies are numerous and costly

• Needs trained, motivated team members

• Can be difficult to achieve! Silo mentality...

A national autism strategy group ?

• Should involve two key ministries- budget holders?

• Academics -University Psychology department

• Main NGO's working with disability/autism

• Education staff - Hospital paediatrician

• Technical support

• Parent Association representative

• Training is a major issue for health and education staff

• Every school needs awareness of identification and referral process

• Some centres of excellence needed

• Many children will be in mainstream schools-spectrum of provision

Recommended tools and

interventions• Not all autism therapies are of value-scientific evaluations often lacking

• Need to define "best practice for Mauritius"

• TEACCH- visual structure ABA?

• PECS- Picture Exchange Communication System

• Social Stories and Social Skills training with peer group

• Curriculum adaptation to meet individual needs

Questions?jeanmarc.littleorchard@gmail.com

Possibilities for collaboration

• Joint conference MEd and MOH- November 2012

• Future training events on diagnostic process, educational issues, parent support etc.

• Creation of the national committee and Plan

• Linking schools and special units to schools with experience in UK- teacher exchange visits?

• Engagement with Autism Speaks Global Autism Initiative- financial support for epidemiological survey?