New service to assist with Autism

Kylie Streatfield (ODEEP Manager), Rowena Roweth (Whole Child Specialists Clinical Principal Psychologist) and Mum Lisa Darley all excited to launch this new service Mind and Body Centre for Autism and Neurodevelopment.

Mind and Body Centre for Autism and Neurodevelopment officially launched earlier in the week providing Orange families with the opportunity to get assessed locally, rather than having to travel to Sydney and be put on a waiting list.

ODEEP Manager, Kylie Streatfield said, “ODEEP and Whole Child Specialists have formed a partnership to create a multi-disciplinary team of specialists which includes psychologists, speech pathologists, clinical social workers and more so we can offer a very individualised process for families. For us to be able to walk the family through that assessment pathway is so important”.

Whole Child Specialists Clinical Principal Psychologist, Rowena Roweth added, “I think for families to know that they are getting a comprehensive high level of assessment done to look at what is happening for their child then plan a treatment for them which is evidence based and matches their assessment is so important. If we can get this done as early as possible, we can help with that transition to school which is ideal”.

The service provided meets international guidelines for the assessment process but more importantly it has the opportunity to make life easier for local families.

Mum Lisa Darley said, “Initially I started with ODEEP as a family with my son who was four and they helped us with the whole process of diagnosis and he ended up being diagnosed with autism then several years later our daughter was also diagnosed with autism so I loved ODEEP as they were the family that I really needed at the time.

“To set up this joint initiative is just amazing as for families like me it would have helped us so much as my husband and I had to take both children to Sydney and sit in a horrible clinical room all day with somebody that we had never met before and that person ended up diagnosing our children with autism. We left at the end of the day saying wow that was horrible where as to have this in Orange is just unbelievable and all of the staff are so experienced.

“Pick up the phone and don’t be scared as I was really scared when somebody said we think there is something wrong with your child, from that time it probably took 6 months to get a diagnosis. Pick up the phone and get help as early as you can and don’t be scared of walking in those doors, know that everybody here is just like family”.

To get in touch with this new service you can contact either ODEEP or Whole Child Specialists and they can guide you through the whole process.