Characteristics of children attending an autism specific early learning and care setting prior to and following introduction of the National Disability Insurance Scheme

ABSTRACT

Background

The rollout of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) has transformed the Australian funding landscape for individuals with disability and their families. This study examined whether the profiles of autistic children and their families accessing an early intervention (EI) setting have changed following its introduction.

Methods

The cognition and behavioural profiles of children funded under the NDIS (n = 58) were compared to children who had received block government funding (n = 58). Parental mental health and quality of life (QoL) outcomes were compared.

Results

Children presented with similar baseline cognition, functional abilities and autism behaviours at intake into EI irrespective of funding type. While parental QoL was similar across groups, parents funded by the NDIS reported significantly higher stress and depression levels.

Conclusions

The current findings suggest that modifications to the NDIS framework may be necessary to extend benefits beyond the individual living with disability to foster the health and wellbeing of their primary carers.

KEYWORDS:

• Early intervention
• ESDM
• parent mental health
• wellbeing
• quality of life

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge the staff at the Victorian Autism Specific Early Learning and Care Centre (ASELCC) who work tirelessly to support all children and their families during their transition to the centre, and for the duration of their time at the ASELCC. The authors also thank the parents and their children for participating in the research.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).