SOUTH-WEST Victoria is set to become the first region in Australia to embrace autism as the I CAN program is launched during April.
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The pilot program will include the set up of mentoring programs across all five Warrnambool secondary schools as well as the training of local mentors to multiply the future reach of the program.
I CAN is Australia’s first social enterprise founded by people with autism. Chief executive Chris Varney is a 28-year-old law graduate with Asperger’s Syndrome who is proud of the local families who have pushed for the program.
“Warrnambool families and schools have brought the I CAN mentoring program to the South West.” Mr Varney said.
“It’s great to see their enthusiasm and help them create a community-level change for people on the Autism-Spectrum.”
About one in 100 Australians are on the autism spectrum.
Autism can create challenges in communication, social interactions and learning difficulties.
For Mepunga mother Lisa Boyle it was a combination of a motherly instinct, an observant childcare worker and a clever speech pathologist for her to finally have her son diagnosed with autism.
“We noticed he was late to talk,” Mrs Boyle said. “He was almost three at the time.”
Mrs Boyle said the family were preparing for her son’s next chapter.
“He is fast approaching high school now,” said Mrs Boyle.
“My husband and I realised his learning environment is about to drastically change.”
This upcoming change is what led Mrs Boyle to approach the I CAN Network in Melbourne and convince Mr Varney to set up a presence in the south-west.
“I just asked him if he’d be interested in bringing his program to the south-west and he said yes,” Mrs Boyle said.
“We now have a commitment of funding for two years. After 2017, if successful, we’d love to expand.”
The program will be officially launched at the I CAN South West young teens camp in April. The five Warrnambool pilot schools have chosen teens between the ages of 14 and 18 who will attend and go on to mentor others in the future.
“A lot of young people on the spectrum are missing out,” Mr Varney said.
“They’re falling through the cracks.
“Our programs are designed to make sure they don’t and to help their communities to see what they can do, not what they can’t.”
People wanting more information can contact Kate Sadler at the South West I CAN Network.
