Paediatricians
Paediatricians manage the health of children, including physical, behaviour and mental health issues. They diagnose and treat childhood illness, infections and disease.
Autism
Use this page to get an overview of the options available to you.
Information about autism and supports
This page has an overview of information relating to autism spectrum disorder (ASD), or autism, and consumer stories from people with autism explaining how they use supports.
It is a good place to start if you or your child have a diagnosis of autism, are waiting for a diagnosis, or simply want to explore the other options that are out there in terms of supports.
By scrolling through the articles below you can learn more about autism, the wide range of support services available and how National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) funding might help.
You can also use the jump to menu to go directly to the articles you want to read.
At the end of the topics is a section showing the professionals and providers that can help with supports.
Following that is a list of more guides to the types of support available and a preview of some of the other articles related to autism that can be found on our website.
Who can help?
There are a number of professionals who can help you work through the different challenges of an autism diagnosis. They can help you to understand and adapt to the condition and also give you the tools and support to gain a variety of skills such as communication or social interactions, manage sensory input and manage behaviours.
Speech Therapists
Speech therapists work on smoothing out communication and swallowing difficulties in both children and adults.
Occupational Therapists
Occupational therapists (OTs) help people of all ages gain or regain their confidence and independence in everyday life.
Plan Support
Support services to help you manage the planning and funding allocated under NDIS.
Support for people with autism
From getting help with early intervention, accessing respite care or learning important life skills, there is a wide range of support services available to help you if you are looking for assistance to manage day-to-day life with autism.
Childhood Supports
Early childhood intervention supports can help maximise your child's development and give them the skills to participate in daily activities.
Community Support
Being social and active in your community helps you to remain connected and is good for your wellbeing.
Education
Students with disability can access additional support at primary and high school through both internal and external services.
In-Home Support
Supports such as personal care, cleaning or nursing care to help look after you in your own home.
Related information articles
Here you’ll find a selection of information articles related to autism that have been published on Disability Support Guide to help you understand the condition or give further insight into getting the right supports.
Autism resources
Whether you are a person living with autism, a carer, a family member or a friend, there are some great resources and support groups available to help you with practical and emotional support.
How to explain ‘bad behaviour’ to other parents
Have you had tense interactions with other parents about the behaviour of your child?
Why some adults are ‘picky eaters’ and what to do
Plenty of adults are ‘picky eaters,’ but what would lead someone to be so particular?
Martial arts for a person with disability
This edition of Disability Support Guide looks at how to stay fit and independent in self-defence courses.
Popular Autism Articles
Autism, also referred to as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a lifelong developmental condition affecting 1 in every 100 people within Australia.
Not every child with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) will rock back and forth, avoid eye contact or line their toys up in a structured row. Every child on the autism spectrum will present with different challenges, some more obvious than others.
If you or your child has been diagnosed with autism you may be able to receive Government funded assistance and support services under the National Disability Insurance Scheme. The articles below explain more about NDIS and how to access the Scheme.
Someone with autism may experience social communication issues and repetitive patterns of behaviour, generally these can be broken up into three levels of severity. Autism is a complex spectrum disorder that can cause social and behavioural problems. It is considered to be a spectrum disorder as it is experienced differently for each person.
Finding and maintaining paid employment is one of life’s greatest milestones. It can help you make new friends, develop and build on valuable life skills, contribute to the community and find a purpose. There are supports available to help people with autism through their employment journey.
Starting school, whether primary or secondary, can be daunting for any child but especially for children or young adults living with autism spectrum disorder. With lots of new changes, routines and people, your child may feel anxious and overwhelmed.
Every person with autism is different. There are many myths and stereotypes associated with autism and it’s important to know what’s real and what isn’t. Here, we debunk some common myths about people with autism.
For the first two years of his life Harry seemed to meet all the necessary milestones. He was walking at nine months and talking at 10 months, however the milestone he never met was sleeping through the night.
By age two and a half his parents knew that something wasn’t right with his lack of sleep, lack of speech and increasingly challenging behaviour issues. In their search for answers the family continued to push doctors for checks and tests to help their young son, ultimately resulting in the diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Visiting the dentist can be a source of anxiety for many people, but for someone living with autism or sensory sensitivities, the experience can be particularly overwhelming.