Autism Association Annual Report 2023

In 2022, we were awarded a grant by the Department of Communities through the Western Australia State Disability Systemic Advocacy Program, to deliver a 3-year project, Improving Health Outcomes for Autistic People (iHOAP). This project is aligned with the National Roadmap for Improving the Health of People with Intellectual Disability and is focused on supporting people with Autism and other complex communication needs to access health services, as well as building the capacity of health professionals to deliver high quality health services to Autistic individuals. Over the course of the project, we will work with Autistic people, their families and caregivers, and health professionals to design and produce training materials, resources and policy briefs across health services such as oral health, primary health, allied health and mental health. To better support children with Autism and families attending the Emergency Department, we have worked closely with physicians at Perth Children’s Hospital. This has involved providing feedback on a Neurodivergent Care Plan that is now being used, and co-developing a survey to gather information about the experiences of Autistic children who have attended the Emergency Department. This year, we continued our collaboration with Curtin School of Oral Health Therapy. We delivered workshops to train final year Oral Health Therapy students on Autism and supported to deliver Autism-friendly oral health clinics. In May, 22 children and young people who previously had difficulty with attending dental clinics attended appointments in the Oral Health Clinic, all of which were highly successful. Some families commented that they never thought their child would be able to attend a dental appointment, but through these sessions were able to tolerate the environment and receive dental treatment. Further clinics are scheduled with plans to expand to monthly oral health clinics. In addition, from 2024, Autism-specific training will be embedded in the final year curriculum for Oral Health Therapy students.

Autism Association of Western Australia - Annual Report 2023

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