§ Mrs. Iris RobinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to standardise the services available to sufferers of autism in different parts of Northern Ireland, with particular reference to applied behaviour analysis provision for schoolchildren. [116374]
§ Jane KennedyChildren with an Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) represent a continuum of need, ranging from mild impairments, to the more severe. The Education and Library Boards (ELBs) provide specialised support to schools with pupils with ASD and the Department of Education is aware that there is a degree of variation in assessment and provision across the Province. Work is currently under way between the Department and the ELBs in order to standardise practice by producing criteria which will be common across the board areas.
In line with the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety's "Priorities for Action 2003/04" the Health and Social Services Trusts, in consultation with the ELBs, are developing costed proposals to enhance diagnostic, assessment and support services.
Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) is one of a range of interventions used in working with children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder and all of the Boards' Educational Psychologists receive training in ABA techniques as part of their degree qualification.
567WThe Report of the Task Group on Autism, published in May 2002 states that:
The Task Group finds preference for no single approach but concludes that single methods by themselves may not address effectively the triad of impairments associated with ASD. The Group concludes that intervention programmes should be child-centred rather than method-centred, and should address the observed and unique needs of the child and any variation in these which occurs over time and across settings and situations.
§ Mrs. Iris RobinsonTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to his answer of 13 May 2003,Official Report, column 194W, on autism, whether the proposed Centre of Excellence for Autism will provide regular respite care for sufferers across the province. [116620]
§ Jane KennedyThere are no plans to offer respite care for parents and children with Autism at the proposed Centre of Excellence. The centre is planned as an educational facility.