Ms Paula Dalton:

In terms of early intervention, it is important this happens at the point when issues first arise. At seven years old Reese was presenting with issues not typical in autism. I could see the problem was escalating but when I requested intervention nobody listened. At that point he needed early intervention in the form of play therapy, which works well for him, and psychological and psychiatric therapy. If interventions are made at an early stage it helps to fix a problem before a child feels his or her life is over or ruined and thus one does not have to spend as much money and resources on the child at a later stage. Art therapies and other similar therapies should be introduced because not only autistic children but all children respond well to visual therapies. It is important intervention centres are child friendly. I know from parents whose children are not autistic but are in need of intervention therapies that children are scared of going to these places if they do not appear child friendly. They either shut down or they put brave faces on and pretend everything is okay but when the go home they have episodes and breakdowns. Without early intervention a child's condition will escalate and become a greater problem.