Autism Spectrum Australia (Aspect) operates
six schools for children with autism in New
South Wales located in the Sydney metropolitan
area, the Hunter region, the Central Coast
and the South Coast.
Each of Aspect’s schools is a special
school for children with autism spectrum disorders
(ASDs) who require specialised education programs.
The primary focus of Aspect schools is to equip
students with the skills to become as independent
as possible and enable them to integrate into
the wider community. In recognition of the special
needs of students with ASDs, class sizes are
small.
The schools provide a range of educational
services, from early intervention to adolescent
classes. Aspect maintains a policy of transitioning
students with ASDs into more inclusive settings.
These settings include mainstream classes and
support classes, or special schools. The decision
to transition a student is based on the student’s
ability to work in a less specialised setting
and is made as part of their Individual Education
Plan.
Aspect schools comprise a base school — which
also operates as an administrative centre — and
a range of satellite classes. A satellite class
is an Aspect autism-specific support class operated
by the base school and located in either a NSW
Department of Education & Training or a
Catholic Education Office mainstream school.
Satellite classes are an important step in the
transition of some students with ASDs who demonstrate
the necessary skills. Each school has a number
of satellite classes attached to it, including
a regional group of satellite classes located
in the Riverina (Wagga Wagga and Albury) which
is managed by the South Coast school.
Other Aspect School services
Other services that may be provided by Aspect
schools on a fee-for-service basis include:
Jigsaw and/or BUILDING BLOCKS® early intervention, for children
aged up to 6
Outreach to support families and other
services to minimise the challenges of
individuals with ASDs (available
through Hunter and South Coast schools
only)
Some schools also facilitate playgroups, coffee
mornings and parent support groups.
Aspect's
Comprehensive Educational Approach