The Hodgman Liberal Government is committed to improving the lives of Tasmanians with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
Today, Thursday 2 April 2015, marks the eighth World Autism Awareness Day – a day to promote awareness and inclusion as well as an opportunity to celebrate the many contributions people with autism make to our community.
To mark World Autism Awareness Day tonight we are shining a light on autism.
Tasmania’s Parliament House will once again join iconic landmarks around the world by being transformed with blue lighting to raise awareness of the disorder.
Affecting thousands of Tasmanians, ASD has increased dramatically, growing at a faster rate than any other form of disability.
That’s why the Government is delivering an extra $1 million over four years to support the introduction of a long-term strategy for autism care in Tasmania.
We also established an Autism Advisory Panel, and we are introducing Rethink Autism as well as an autism-specific unit at Lindisfarne North Primary School.
Rethink Autism is a web based program developed in the United States, which will provide individually tailored educational plans for participants that can be delivered in the home, in childcare centres, in schools and anywhere the child goes.
On World Autism Awareness Day, I would like to thank the members of the Autism Advisory Panel and all of those who are working to help put Tasmania at the forefront of autism support nationally.