• Storytelling & Memory Keeping
    • Digital Scrapbooking Hybrid Scrapbooking Mobile Memory Keeping All
      December Daily

      What is December Daily?

      September 12, 2021

      Digital Scrapbooking

      Digital Scrapbooking Freebies are out there – Persnickety…

      July 18, 2018

      Digital Scrapbooking

      Project Life Digital – Freebies Are Out There…

      October 21, 2012

      Digital Scrapbooking

      Digital Project Life – How to get started?

      October 14, 2012

      Hybrid Scrapbooking

      Favourite Scrapbooking Tools – Silhouette Cameo 4

      September 13, 2021

      Hybrid Scrapbooking

      What is December Daily?

      September 12, 2021

      Mobile Memory Keeping

      Project Life App

      August 2, 2015

      Mobile Memory Keeping

      How to do Project 365 and how do…

      January 3, 2012

      Storytelling & Memory Keeping

      Favourite Scrapbooking Tools – Silhouette Cameo 4

      September 13, 2021

      Storytelling & Memory Keeping

      What is December Daily?

      September 12, 2021

      Storytelling & Memory Keeping

      Digital Scrapbooking Freebies are out there – Persnickety…

      July 18, 2018

      Storytelling & Memory Keeping

      2017 Project 365 – Preparations and Lessons Learnt

      December 31, 2016

  • Projects
    • December Daily Photography Project Life and Project 365 Wordless Wednesday All
      December Daily

      Favourite Scrapbooking Tools – Silhouette Cameo 4

      September 13, 2021

      December Daily

      What is December Daily?

      September 12, 2021

      December Daily

      Merry Christmas Everyone!!

      December 20, 2011

      Photography

      Digital Project Life – How to get started?

      October 14, 2012

      Photography

      Wordless Wednesday – Thomas & The Train Shed

      December 21, 2011

      Photography

      Wordless Wednesday ….

      November 16, 2011

      Photography

      Wordless Wednesday

      August 24, 2011

      Project Life and Project 365

      Favourite Scrapbooking Tools – Silhouette Cameo 4

      September 13, 2021

      Project Life and Project 365

      Digital Project Life – How to get started?

      October 14, 2012

      Project Life and Project 365

      How to do Project 365 and how do…

      January 3, 2012

      Wordless Wednesday

      Wordless Wednesday – Thomas & The Train Shed

      December 21, 2011

      Wordless Wednesday

      Wordless Wednesday ….

      November 16, 2011

      Wordless Wednesday

      Wordless ….

      October 9, 2011

      Wordless Wednesday

      Wordless Wednesday – Miss Outside

      September 21, 2011

      Craft Projects

      Favourite Scrapbooking Tools – Silhouette Cameo 4

      September 13, 2021

      Craft Projects

      What is December Daily?

      September 12, 2021

      Craft Projects

      Digital Project Life – How to get started?

      October 14, 2012

      Craft Projects

      How to do Project 365 and how do…

      January 3, 2012

  • Life
    • Community & Kids Disability Grateful Inspiration Laughter, Song & Dance Mind & Spirit Play & Rest Technology Travel All
      Community & Kids

      Carers Allowance & 2018 Federal Budget

      July 19, 2018

      Community & Kids

      Pool Safety … Is Your Pool Ready For…

      October 19, 2012

      Community & Kids

      Autism and Travel Insurance

      October 4, 2012

      Community & Kids

      School Holiday Ideas – Thomas & the Train…

      September 24, 2012

      Disability

      Carers Allowance & 2018 Federal Budget

      July 19, 2018

      Disability

      Social Model Of Disability And Why It Is…

      July 8, 2018

      Disability

      iOS Guided Access – How to help focus…

      June 8, 2013

      Disability

      Autism and Travel Insurance

      October 4, 2012

      Grateful

      Grateful for TED

      September 24, 2011

      Grateful

      Grateful for … Spoken Word

      September 15, 2011

      Grateful

      Grateful for … Poetry

      September 8, 2011

      Grateful

      Grateful for … our GP

      August 23, 2011

      Inspiration

      Some Days I Miss … the Theatre

      December 29, 2011

      Inspiration

      Favourite Quotations – Steve Jobs – Change the…

      November 21, 2011

      Inspiration

      Grateful for TED

      September 24, 2011

      Inspiration

      Grateful for … Spoken Word

      September 15, 2011

      Laughter, Song & Dance

      Most Wuthering Heights Day Ever 2018 – An…

      July 15, 2018

      Laughter, Song & Dance

      If Moms Talked to Each Other The Way…

      October 17, 2015

      Laughter, Song & Dance

      Friday Funny: Lullaby

      August 24, 2012

      Laughter, Song & Dance

      Friday Funny – Fotoshop by Adobé

      April 20, 2012

      Mind & Spirit

      I Miss My Dad

      April 29, 2012

      Mind & Spirit

      Grateful for TED

      September 24, 2011

      Mind & Spirit

      Less than perfect – Good Enough Mum

      August 16, 2011

      Mind & Spirit

      Words of Wisdom for New Mums

      January 19, 2009

      Play & Rest

      If Moms Talked to Each Other The Way…

      October 17, 2015

      Play & Rest

      Review: Sydney Good Food and Wine Show

      June 24, 2012

      Play & Rest

      Get Your Motors Running – Autism Motorcyle Ride

      April 20, 2012

      Play & Rest

      Royal Easter Show 2012 – Last minute Show…

      April 6, 2012

      Technology

      iOS Guided Access – How to help focus…

      June 8, 2013

      Technology

      Do you Backup Your Blog?

      September 22, 2012

      Technology

      Apple Junkie: Preview of iOS5

      June 6, 2011

      Travel

      Things I love about London – St Pauls

      March 9, 2012

      Travel

      Things I love about London – British Museum

      February 29, 2012

      Travel

      Things I Love About London – Tower of…

      February 9, 2012

      Travel

      Crazy Dreams – Vespa Ape

      July 24, 2011

      Stories of Life

      Remembering 9/11 20 Years On

      September 11, 2021

      Stories of Life

      Carers Allowance & 2018 Federal Budget

      July 19, 2018

      Stories of Life

      Most Wuthering Heights Day Ever 2018 – An…

      July 15, 2018

      Stories of Life

      Social Model Of Disability And Why It Is…

      July 8, 2018

  • Stories
  • Instagram
  • About me
    • Contact Me
    • Guest Post Submission Guidelines
N My Life
- crafting life -
Tag:

learning the signs of autism

Disability

Getting An Assessment 2012 – Autism and Developmental Delay Diagnosis

by bronwyn March 12, 2012
written by bronwyn
Little girl with balloon

Here is my second instalment of posts my series of posts on Autism that I have been working on  leading up to World Autism Awareness Day and Autism Awareness Month in April. For this post I want to cover Assessment. I have written on this before … but after speaking with more people I have got some updated information … So I hope that this will be useful.

Time for an Assessment

I know after you first here the words Autism or the Development Delay are days that events that you will not forget for the rest of your life. Many feel like it is a hit to the gut … and one that it is just impossible to get your breath again … don’t worry you will. But what you need to do is work on getting an assessment ASAP. This is the key to getting, if required, access to funding, access to services and treatment.

The reason for why you should get started on this ASAP is

  • for government services they have waiting lists for everything. You have to wait to get diagnosed and then wait for access to services and treatment. The sooner you get on the lists the sooner you get diagnosed and then if appropriate access to treatment services.
  • some funding expires when your child reaches certain ages. The Federal Government’s specific program for funding early intervention unfortunately is one of these. You will often hear this being referred to as FaHCSIA. More information below


Organising Assessment

Step 1 – Referral

Most assessment centres require a referral from a Paediatrician. This includes the Children’s Hospital and Private Centres. I have found from our experience that if you get a referral from to the Children’s Hospital that private centres will also accept the same referral.

Step 2 – Organising Assessment – Children’s Hospital at Westmead – Disability Specialist Unit 

The Children’s Hospital only does assessments where the child is suspected of having a developmental delay. If this is the case … I would recommend that even if you look at going down the path of getting a private assessment I think that it is worthwhile getting an assessment done through the Children’s Hospital Westmead – Disability Specialist Unit. We found that they are knowledgeable and caring … and used different tests to the private assessment centre (Griffith’s Developmental Scale) and they have connections to the Department of Human Services, Ageing, Disability and Home Care that appear to be helpful rather than you having to fight that bureaucracy to find the right person.

What you need to do is call the Children’s Hospital and speak to someone in the Disability Services Unit. They will be able to tell you the nearest centre to your home. Once you speak with them and and give them a copy of your referral they will tell you whether they may be able to offer an assessment.  If you are offered an assessment they will send you a long a very long questionnaire (20+ pages) that will ask you heaps of questions about their development. While it is a bit of a slog to get through, send it back ideally in a express post pack and keep the reference number. This way you can track and even have proof of delivery from the Australia Post website (http://www.auspost.com.au/track/).

Once you have submitted it you will be put on a waiting list for a date. You should receive the date within 6-8 weeks before your date. You will not be told this unless you ask and you will not be notified on the progress of your request unless they call with a date or if you call. They will call when you have a date and send out some paperwork before hand to help prepare you for what is going to happen. You will also get a call from a Case Worker before the date.

To give you an idea about our experiences and timelines.

  • LittleMan 2010 – I had submitted our paperwork on 25th November 2009 and I had confirmation that they had received it on that date. When I called up in January 2010 I was told that he was on the waiting list for a date (~6 months) and it would be at best sometime in May. We ended up being lucky that someone cancelled and we saw them in February.
  • AnotherChild 2012 – Paperwork submitted on 5th March 2012. Appointment for the 17th March (due to a cancellation)
It all just depends on what they have on their schedule. It might be 6 months … and it might only be a few weeks. They do their best with the resources that they have at hand.

Step 3 – Private Assessment

Depending on how old your child is Private assessment may be required due to their age. If your child is almost 6th … you want to get onto it ASAP and get a private assessment (that can sometimes be organised within a few weeks). I would recomend that you want a assessment completed t least 1 month before their 6th birthday to ensure access to FaHCSIA funding. There  many private assessment options available but I have only experience with Lizard and Autism Spectrum Australia (ASPECT) . Both of these services cost about $1000. However Medicare and private health fund rebates are available.

  • LittleMan 2010 – We used the Lizard Centre at Chatswood and found them to be very professional and we were able to get in for an assessment in only 3 weeks. They used 2 assessment tools – ADOS and ADI-R.
  • AnotherChild 2012 – Using Autism Spectrum Australia (ASPECT). They are getting assessed this week. Very positive experience thus far but will update when complete.

Autism Spectrum Australia

http://www.autismspectrum.org.au/

02 8977 8300

Lizard Centre

http://www.lizardcentre.com/

1300 326 484

What to do while waiting Assessment

Early Days Workshops

The Early Days online workshops provide information on various topics related to autism spectrum disorder (ASD). They also help you build a personal plan that you can put into practice at home with your own child and family. The workshops have been developed to provide the latest evidence-based information about ASD and equip participants with some skills needed to promote their child’s early development.

Early Days workshops include topics on

  • Building your resilience to stress
  • Managing stress
  • Supporting siblings
  • Video modelling
  • Self-management
  • Sleep
  • Fathers

 Livvi’s Place Playground

Livvi’s Place is my favourite playground.  It is at Timbrell Park on Henley Marine Drive at Five Dock and it is a “all abilities playground”. For more information read some of my early posts

  • Livvi’s Place, Timbrell Park Five Dock
  • Livvi’s Pace – Best Playground in Australia

Researching funding

Check out my posts on Navigating the Funding Maze posts

  • Medicare
  • Helping Children with Autism
  • Carer Allowance and Health Care Card Concessions
  • Medical Expenses Tax Offset
  • Inclusion Support
  • Health Insurance
  • Family Assistance Fund
  • Carer Adjustment Payment

Photo by Gyorgy Bakos on Unsplash

March 12, 2012 0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Disability

M-CHAT – Picking up on the Early Signs of Autism

by bronwyn February 19, 2012
written by bronwyn
boy holding block toy

Can you believe it is half way through February already. This year has just had everything go so fast. I have some wonderful news that I will share over the next few posts but I wanted to start another series of posts on Autism that I have up my sleeve leading up to World Autism Awareness Day and Autism Awareness Month in April.

So to start us off I wanted to start with a topic very close to my heart and that is screening. I know as a first time parent I thought that my LittleMan was no different to any other child. He has his strengths and his weaknesses and seemed to just glide through 95% + of the milestones. What I didn’t know was the signs to look out for Autism … I didn’t know that not pointing was a big deal or that his ‘interest’ in wheels was such a big deal. I just thought everything was OK .. the big thing for me was speech. That was my big clue. But I now know that there were many signs I missed because I just didn’t know and to be honest I don’t think that the nurses or GPs that were helping knew what to ask or look for either … More needs to be done on screening for Autism and developmental delays … but there is much that as parents we can do now.

If you are a parent of a child 16-30 months please read this … or if you know someone who has a child in this age bracket please share. This act may make a huge difference in someone’s life.

What can we all do to better identify children with Autism and get them the help they need ASAP?

Research now suggests that children as young as 1 year old can show signs of autism. The most important thing you can do as a parent or caregiver is to learn the early signs of autism and understand the typical developmental milestones your child should be reaching at different ages. Validated screening for autism starts as young as 16 months. If your child does have autism, early intervention may be his or her best hope.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has recommended that all children receive autism-specific screening at 18 and 24 months of age, in addition to broad developmental screening at 9, 18, and 24 months. The AAP recommends M-CHAT Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (M-CHAT) as a tool that can be used for this screening.

The M-CHAT Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (M-CHAT) is is a validated autism screening tool designed to identify children 16 to 30 months of age who should receive a more thorough assessment for possible early signs of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or developmental delay. M-CHAT is not a diagnostic tool (will not give a diagnosis … but just highlight if further investigations are warranted). The M-CHAT is one of the most rigorously tested screening tools for autism. It has been used to assess thousands of children worldwide. Results of these studies have appeared in numerous scientific journals. You can read abstracts and find links to many of the articles here.

I agree 100% with the AAP and I am a strong advocate for all children to be screened by GPs and nurses when they have the regular health checkups … but until that is done … there is something that parents you can do. You can access the M-CHAT Test online free … please do and take the results to your GP to discuss. It is easy, quick and could maybe make a big difference in your child’s life or the child of someone close to you …

Photo by Caleb Woods on Unsplash

February 19, 2012 0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail

About Me

About Me

Hi, I'm Bronwyn. I like to eat, laugh, take photos, tell stories, dream, help people & balance that with being a mum of 2 autistic kids. All my own opinions

Keep in touch

Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest Goodreads

Recent Posts

  • Favourite Scrapbooking Tools – Silhouette Cameo 4

    September 13, 2021
  • What is December Daily?

    September 12, 2021
  • Remembering 9/11 20 Years On

    September 11, 2021
  • Carers Allowance & 2018 Federal Budget

    July 19, 2018

Instagram

Categories

  • Craft Projects (10)
    • December Daily (3)
    • Photography (4)
    • Project Life and Project 365 (3)
    • Wordless Wednesday (5)
  • Retire (3)
  • Stories of Life (175)
    • Community & Kids (59)
    • Disability (51)
    • Grateful (7)
    • Inspiration (11)
    • Laughter, Song & Dance (18)
    • Mind & Spirit (4)
    • Play & Rest (14)
    • Technology (3)
    • Travel (9)
  • Storytelling & Memory Keeping (14)
    • Digital Scrapbooking (9)
    • Hybrid Scrapbooking (2)
    • Mobile Memory Keeping (2)

Recent Posts

  • Favourite Scrapbooking Tools – Silhouette Cameo 4

    September 13, 2021
  • What is December Daily?

    September 12, 2021
  • Remembering 9/11 20 Years On

    September 11, 2021

Categories

  • Storytelling & Memory Keeping
  • Craft Projects
  • Stories of Life
    • Disability
    • Grateful
    • Laughter, Song & Dance
    • Play & Rest
    • Travel

Popular Posts

  • 1

    Digital Scrapbooking Freebies are out there – Persnickety Prints

    July 18, 2018
  • 2

    How to do Project 365 and how do I do it with Instagram?

    January 3, 2012
  • 3

    Project Life Digital – Freebies Are Out There ..

    October 21, 2012

Instagram

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Goodreads

@2021 - Bronwyn Orsatti

N My Life
  • Storytelling & Memory Keeping
    • Digital Scrapbooking Hybrid Scrapbooking Mobile Memory Keeping All
      December Daily

      What is December Daily?

      September 12, 2021

      Digital Scrapbooking

      Digital Scrapbooking Freebies are out there – Persnickety…

      July 18, 2018

      Digital Scrapbooking

      Project Life Digital – Freebies Are Out There…

      October 21, 2012

      Digital Scrapbooking

      Digital Project Life – How to get started?

      October 14, 2012

      Hybrid Scrapbooking

      Favourite Scrapbooking Tools – Silhouette Cameo 4

      September 13, 2021

      Hybrid Scrapbooking

      What is December Daily?

      September 12, 2021

      Mobile Memory Keeping

      Project Life App

      August 2, 2015

      Mobile Memory Keeping

      How to do Project 365 and how do…

      January 3, 2012

      Storytelling & Memory Keeping

      Favourite Scrapbooking Tools – Silhouette Cameo 4

      September 13, 2021

      Storytelling & Memory Keeping

      What is December Daily?

      September 12, 2021

      Storytelling & Memory Keeping

      Digital Scrapbooking Freebies are out there – Persnickety…

      July 18, 2018

      Storytelling & Memory Keeping

      2017 Project 365 – Preparations and Lessons Learnt

      December 31, 2016

  • Projects
    • December Daily Photography Project Life and Project 365 Wordless Wednesday All
      December Daily

      Favourite Scrapbooking Tools – Silhouette Cameo 4

      September 13, 2021

      December Daily

      What is December Daily?

      September 12, 2021

      December Daily

      Merry Christmas Everyone!!

      December 20, 2011

      Photography

      Digital Project Life – How to get started?

      October 14, 2012

      Photography

      Wordless Wednesday – Thomas & The Train Shed

      December 21, 2011

      Photography

      Wordless Wednesday ….

      November 16, 2011

      Photography

      Wordless Wednesday

      August 24, 2011

      Project Life and Project 365

      Favourite Scrapbooking Tools – Silhouette Cameo 4

      September 13, 2021

      Project Life and Project 365

      Digital Project Life – How to get started?

      October 14, 2012

      Project Life and Project 365

      How to do Project 365 and how do…

      January 3, 2012

      Wordless Wednesday

      Wordless Wednesday – Thomas & The Train Shed

      December 21, 2011

      Wordless Wednesday

      Wordless Wednesday ….

      November 16, 2011

      Wordless Wednesday

      Wordless ….

      October 9, 2011

      Wordless Wednesday

      Wordless Wednesday – Miss Outside

      September 21, 2011

      Craft Projects

      Favourite Scrapbooking Tools – Silhouette Cameo 4

      September 13, 2021

      Craft Projects

      What is December Daily?

      September 12, 2021

      Craft Projects

      Digital Project Life – How to get started?

      October 14, 2012

      Craft Projects

      How to do Project 365 and how do…

      January 3, 2012

  • Life
    • Community & Kids Disability Grateful Inspiration Laughter, Song & Dance Mind & Spirit Play & Rest Technology Travel All
      Community & Kids

      Carers Allowance & 2018 Federal Budget

      July 19, 2018

      Community & Kids

      Pool Safety … Is Your Pool Ready For…

      October 19, 2012

      Community & Kids

      Autism and Travel Insurance

      October 4, 2012

      Community & Kids

      School Holiday Ideas – Thomas & the Train…

      September 24, 2012

      Disability

      Carers Allowance & 2018 Federal Budget

      July 19, 2018

      Disability

      Social Model Of Disability And Why It Is…

      July 8, 2018

      Disability

      iOS Guided Access – How to help focus…

      June 8, 2013

      Disability

      Autism and Travel Insurance

      October 4, 2012

      Grateful

      Grateful for TED

      September 24, 2011

      Grateful

      Grateful for … Spoken Word

      September 15, 2011

      Grateful

      Grateful for … Poetry

      September 8, 2011

      Grateful

      Grateful for … our GP

      August 23, 2011

      Inspiration

      Some Days I Miss … the Theatre

      December 29, 2011

      Inspiration

      Favourite Quotations – Steve Jobs – Change the…

      November 21, 2011

      Inspiration

      Grateful for TED

      September 24, 2011

      Inspiration

      Grateful for … Spoken Word

      September 15, 2011

      Laughter, Song & Dance

      Most Wuthering Heights Day Ever 2018 – An…

      July 15, 2018

      Laughter, Song & Dance

      If Moms Talked to Each Other The Way…

      October 17, 2015

      Laughter, Song & Dance

      Friday Funny: Lullaby

      August 24, 2012

      Laughter, Song & Dance

      Friday Funny – Fotoshop by Adobé

      April 20, 2012

      Mind & Spirit

      I Miss My Dad

      April 29, 2012

      Mind & Spirit

      Grateful for TED

      September 24, 2011

      Mind & Spirit

      Less than perfect – Good Enough Mum

      August 16, 2011

      Mind & Spirit

      Words of Wisdom for New Mums

      January 19, 2009

      Play & Rest

      If Moms Talked to Each Other The Way…

      October 17, 2015

      Play & Rest

      Review: Sydney Good Food and Wine Show

      June 24, 2012

      Play & Rest

      Get Your Motors Running – Autism Motorcyle Ride

      April 20, 2012

      Play & Rest

      Royal Easter Show 2012 – Last minute Show…

      April 6, 2012

      Technology

      iOS Guided Access – How to help focus…

      June 8, 2013

      Technology

      Do you Backup Your Blog?

      September 22, 2012

      Technology

      Apple Junkie: Preview of iOS5

      June 6, 2011

      Travel

      Things I love about London – St Pauls

      March 9, 2012

      Travel

      Things I love about London – British Museum

      February 29, 2012

      Travel

      Things I Love About London – Tower of…

      February 9, 2012

      Travel

      Crazy Dreams – Vespa Ape

      July 24, 2011

      Stories of Life

      Remembering 9/11 20 Years On

      September 11, 2021

      Stories of Life

      Carers Allowance & 2018 Federal Budget

      July 19, 2018

      Stories of Life

      Most Wuthering Heights Day Ever 2018 – An…

      July 15, 2018

      Stories of Life

      Social Model Of Disability And Why It Is…

      July 8, 2018

  • Stories
  • Instagram
  • About me
    • Contact Me
    • Guest Post Submission Guidelines