All aboard to get autism awareness on track

There was excitement as the whistle blew and the steam train chugged in to Spencer Street Station. The children surged ahead, picnic blankets and parents in hand.

As one mother put it, there would be much "hand-twisting, flapping and outbursts" on the way to Bacchus Marsh, but this time "no one's going to blink an eyelid".

Yesterday's trip, part of National Autism Awareness Week, gave more than 100 families affected by autism a rare chance for respite and solidarity.

Among them was former deputy prime minister Tim Fischer, his wife Judy and children Dominic, 6, and Harrison, 9, who has autism.

Mrs Fischer, convenor of a national autism advocacy group, said: "Every day starts with you not knowing whether today is going to be a calm day or a difficult day. It's a steep learning curve for families and there's very little support, in some cases no support, which is particularly true for rural and regional families.

"We've lived in four different places since Harrison was born. Living in a caring community, with a supportive school, is for us the most significant thing, because society is becoming less inclusive, less tolerant of people who are different."

Autism Victoria executive officer Amanda Golding said many families struggled to take autistic children on outings.

There are about 9000 Victorians with autism, and 17 people around the country are newly diagnosed each week. Ms Golding said families waited up to a year for a diagnosis and longer still for early intervention programs and therapy.

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