§ Mr. WorthingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what provision is currently made within Northern Ireland for children with autism. [23601]
§ Mr. AncramIt is the responsibility of the five education and library boards in Northern Ireland to make special educational provision for children with special educational needs, and this includes autistic children. Placements may be made in special schools, in special units attached to mainstream schools or in mainstream schools themselves. One board has established an advisory and support service for autistic children and their families.
The Department of Health and Social Services will be providing grant-aid of £25,000 in 1995–96 to autism via the TEACCH programme, a multi-disciplinary project involving professionals from the fields of education and health and social services, now available at all schools for children with severe learning difficulties.