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On Monday, 27 March 2006, Autism Spectrum Australia (Aspect) will officially open four new satellite classes for children with an autism spectrum disorder in the Riverina.
Two classes will be opened in Albury in the morning by Aspect's co-Patron, Judy Brewer Fischer, followed by the opening of two classes in Wagga Wagga in the afternoon by co-Patron, the Hon Tim Fischer.
The classes, established by Aspect in collaboration with the Catholic Schools Office (CSO) in Albury and the NSW Department of Education & Training (DET) in Wagga Wagga, are in response to a parent-driven campaign to obtain educational services in the Riverina for their children with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). 15 children with an autism spectrum disorder are enrolled in the classes this term, 8 in Albury and 7 in Wagga. The classes are administered by Aspect's South Coast School for Children with Autism.
According to Adrian Ford, Chief Executive Officer of Aspect, "these four satellite classes in the Riverina are part of a regional initiative through which Aspect is committed to providing more autism services to children with an ASD and their families living in regional and rural parts of the state."
Aspect's satellite class project started in 1992 to provide school-age children with autism with specialised teaching programs in regular education settings. Since the opening of the first satellite class at the NSW Department of Education & Training (DET) Belrose Public School, over 400 students have transitioned through these classes to other educational settings. As at March 2006 there is a total of 54 satellite classes in both DET and Catholic schools throughout NSW.
Aspect's Comprehensive Educational Approach
Aspect operates six schools located in the Sydney Metropolitan area, the Hunter region, the Central Coast and the South Coast. These schools are special schools for children with ASDs who require specialised education programs.
The primary focus of the schools is to equip students with the skills to enable them to integrate into the wider community and to become as independent as is possible. In recognition of the special needs of students with ASDs, the ratio of staff to students is very low. Each school provides a range of educational services from early intervention to adolescent classes for children aged 4 to 16 years.
Aspect has a policy of transitioning students with ASDs into more inclusive settings. These settings include mainstream and support classes or special schools. The decision to transition a student is based on the student's ability to cope in a less specialised setting and is made by both families/carers and staff as part of the Individual Education Plan.
All Aspect schools comprise a base school/administrative centre and a range of satellite classes. A satellite class is an autism specific support class operated by an Aspect base school but which is located in either a Department of Education & Training or Catholic Education mainstream school. Satellite classes are an important step in the transition of students with ASDs to wider educational settings.
Aspect refers to its school program as a Comprehensive Educational Approach. Every student has an individual program developed in consultation with families, after careful assessment of their strengths and needs in all environments. The schools' curriculum is based on the core competencies of autism including social, communication, sensory and behavioural needs, which are integrated into the NSW Board of Studies mainstream curriculum – the Key Learning Areas (KLAs). The schools use a multi-disciplinary team approach, working collaboratively with families to develop the best possible outcomes for the students. Aspect provides information and training workshops to families to help them support their child.
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