Autism Connect Early: About the ACE Programme
Ashton’s Place has developed our own early intervention programme which we plan to implement in specific child care centres on the Gold Coast. It is named the ACE (Autism Connect Early) Programme. These child care centres will cater to children on the autism spectrum and will ensure that the programme content is relevant to the individual child.
Individual plans will be developed for each child using the Guidelines for Good Practice for children with autism.1
Ashton’s Place plans to implement effective models of practice to ensure we have a programme that is relevant and one that meets the needs of the individual child and their families.
Research has identified that:
“…no one program will suit all children with autism and their families…there is growing evidence that intensive developmental and combined programs are also effective.”
(Guidelines for Good Practice, 2012)
Key elements for Early Intervention
As per the Guidelines for Good Practice, we can define key elements which are necessary for effective intervention. These include:
- Autism-specific curriculum content focusing on attention, imitation, language, and social skills
- Highly-supportive teaching environments, which deal with the need for predictability and routine, and with challenging behaviours, obsessions, and ritual behaviours;
- Support for children in their transition from the preschool programme
- Support for family members via partnerships with professionals involved in treatments
- Teachers who are appropriately trained to deliver these programmes; and
- Clinical professionals who are appropriately trained to deliver quality programmes.
PLEASE NOTE: This information has been superceded by the latest findings from the CRC Guidelines 2022. For more information see https://www.autismcrc.com.au/best-practice/assessment-and-diagnosis
Industry consultant input
We have sought input from specially trained consultants, who provide the following input into the implementation of our ACE Programme:
With the support of industry trained professionals, including early intervention programme consultants, speech therapists, and occupational therapists, we will ensure that our programme provides:
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A staff training programme aimed at developing an environment that supports autistic children, including both physical aspects as well as programme ideas to provide adequate support;
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Environmental follow-up to ensure training session ideas have been implemented where possible and to welcome any further suggestions;
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Further training for identified staff, be it by smaller specific training sessions with industry professionals from proven early intervention models or further development of their qualifications through higher education;
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A staffing model that is effective in producing programmes that deliver positive outcomes for families and children; and
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Industry trained professionals will provide ongoing consultation with Ashton’s Place to give advice and guidance on the implementation of the ACE Programme in the child care centres that have been identified for delivering the programme.
What do we have in common as parents and carers of autistic children? Well, probably concern and worry for a start, about how they might do or might get along ‘out there’. Certainly, the feeling of loving your child is so much you’d probably go to the world’s end and back, if it would help them to be okay. A deep wish to support them in finding their own way in life, in achieving inner equilibrium and resilience, and in becoming self-confident — and the strong desire that through these things, the chance will be gained for their gifts to shine through and be appreciated fully, both by themselves and others.
– KATY ELPHINSTONE, AUTHOR
