What is Autism?
Autism is a lifelong developmental condition. It affects how people behave and interact with the world around them in both positive and challenging ways. People with autism may experience difficulty with social interaction, communication, restricted and repetitive interests and behaviours, and sensory sensitivities.
While these challenges can have an impact on an individual’s participation in school, their families, and society overall, it is important to remember that autistic people bring a unique and valued perspective to their community and, with support, most autistic people can learn the skills they need to function independently in the community or in a supportive environment. Autistic people will all have different experiences, strengths and challenges. Autism looks different for everyone, presenting differently in each individual and even changing over a person's lifetime – hence it being referred to as a spectrum. The ways in which autistic people learn, think and problem-solve can range from highly skilled to severely challenged.
Research shows that early diagnosis and treatment is important in building a good quality of life for people with autism. It means the earlier we can provide support, the more likely it is they will develop communication, social and life skills.
The potential impact of early intervention autism therapy
Early intervention therapy, such as Applied Behavioural Analysis (ABA) aims to improve an autistic child’s socially significant behaviours - communication, academic, social and adaptive living skills - to a degree that is uniquely meaningful to them. It works to both increase positive learning and decrease behaviours which may be socially isolating, physically harmful or which present a significant hurdle to learning.
Early intervention therapy can reduce the need for extensive support over an autistic person's lifetime.
Our Services
Since 2004, Learning For Life Autism Centre (L4Life) has remained focussed on the critical early years of children with autism. As our L4Life children have grown, so too have our services, which include primary school all the way through to secondary school.
Our services are for children to young adults with autism as well as other neurodivergent young people.
Autism Resources
There are numerous resources focused on Autism and it can be difficult to determine which are the right ones for you.
We have developed a list of resources that we believe will provide you the best information. With new resources constantly becoming available, we will endeavour to keep this list up to date.
You will find these resources at the button below.
Support Our Work
While community awareness has improved and much more is known about autism, we still have a journey ahead to bring equal, accessible, economically viable, inclusive and quality education for all children on the autism spectrum. This is our purpose.
You can support our work by donating today.
Stay Updated
For more information on L4Life, please contact us at (03) 9853 4607 or email enquiries@learningforlife.com.au
Support our work by clicking the donate button below.
