why does everything have to come down to money, its so annoying.

Autism NI says hundreds of families in Northern Ireland are in desperate need of services and that an audit will reveal the extent of the problem.

In a statement on Monday the charity said the "historic under-funding" of families with a child affected by the disability needs to come to an end:

"There has been an historical gap of provision that has meant many parents with a child who have an Autism Spectrum Disorder are not entitled to statutory social care support because their child doesn't have an accompanying learning disability.

"Therefore without statutory social care support at the point of diagnosis, the vast majority of families remain unaware of disability provision and entitlements."

According to the charity, over 80% of autism carers in Northern Ireland are on anti-depressants. Family Support Manager Paula Hanratty from Autism NI says many parents are at breaking point.

"We know from calls to our helpline that there are hundreds of families who are desperate for services, families who are breaking point," Ms Hanratty told UTV.

"Families who are not recognised and who are not getting services are invisible. Autism is a very invisible disability.

"What we are calling on is equal services for families who have a child with autism in comparison to other disability groups."

Ms Hanratty says a "thorough audit" is needed on the number of carers waiting to receive assessment.

"The Trusts are constrained by the lack of funding and we're calling on the department of health to carry out an audit of families that are waiting for carers' assessment.

"We want the Trust and the department to sit up and take notice of the desperate plight of families out there."

SDLP Health Spokesperson Tommy Gallagher has welcomed the call, saying it is "essential" that an autism strategy is developed across all health trusts in Northern Ireland.

"Audits must be carried out in each trust area so that precise figures for the number of autistic children who need support can be calculated," the Fermanagh and South Tyrone MLA said.

"If they do this, they will be in a much better position to argue for resources and parents of autistic children will, at least, have a better idea of the support that they are likely to receive.

"It is not good enough for the Western Health Trust to say that the provision of autism carers' assessments entirely depends on their financial allocation.

"A strategy based on an accurate audit is going to produce better results than the approach that trusts appear to be taking at the present time."

i got this from here http://www.u.tv/News/Thorough-audit-need...12d15501c2

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Stacy
Mother to Terry 11 MLD + ADHD, Nicole 9 Cri-du-chat Syndrome ADHD Asthma GDD Coarctation, Jessica 4 Cri-Du-Chat Syndrome GDD Reflux

Thanks for sharing
You can be our Northern Ireland News person from now on

Sadly everything does come down to money and its so frustrating that you see children not getting help they need in so many ways whilst the local councils and hospitals squander money on managers and art

hi were abouts in norern ireland do u live im in dromore co/down x