Belfast Telegraph, 24/06/2003

The need for support from professionals, teachers and the community for people who have a child with autism has never been greater, it was claimed on June 24.

Gerry McGinn, Permanent Secretary of the Department of Education, was speaking at the launch of a video and CD-ROM for parents and teachers of children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

McGinn said: "The video and CD-ROM are the first of their kind in Northern Ireland and we hope that they will be a significant resource in helping parents overcome their initial shock when their child is diagnosed with ASD, of informing them about ASD, to give them other parent's perspectives, and to highlight other sources of help and information.

He added that the Department was determined to give all young people the best start in life.
"In particular, we are committed to working towards getting that right for young people with special educational needs. These resources, along with 'ASD ? A guide to Classroom Practice,' the booklet recently issued by the Department, will help inform parents, teachers and other professionals about how to best meet the needs of the individual child with ASD.
As approximately 44 per cent of pupils in Northern Ireland with an ASD are in mainstream schools, the CD-ROM will be an invaluable tool to teachers throughout the education system."

The resources were developed by the Department of Education in partnership with Parents and Professionals Autism (PAPA), the Department of Education and Science and the Irish Society for Autism.