PARENTS with autistic children across the north-west will no longer have to travel long distances to get access to important treatments, following the opening of a new dedicated clinic in Sydenham.
The Autism Inspiration Clinic, opened on Monday , offers speech, music and occupational therapy, child psychology and a space for parents and carers to enjoy some much-needed respite.
Taylors Lakes mother Kerryanne Mecarcio said she developed the idea for the clinic after struggling for years to meet the needs of her two autistic daughters.
“I had to give up my career to look after my daughters, so we are living on only my husband’s wage,” she said.
“We have struggled financially and I have had to travel to Melton for early intervention treatments for the girls and to Essendon for speech therapy sessions. There have been times when I have thought I won’t be able to afford petrol.”
Ms Mecarcio says parents of children with autism can experience feelings of isolation because it can be difficult to take their children to social gatherings. “You lose your social life and you wish you could have somewhere to go and catch up with people,” she said.
“A lot of people don’t understand what it’s like to have children with autism and they may think you are a bad parent because they think you can’t control your child.”
She says she hopes the clinic will be a social gathering place for parents and carers. “We will employ parents of kids with autism and we hope to have a space where the children can have their birthday parties.”
Ms Mecarcio has relied on the professional advice of specialist autism teacher Andrea Wallace to get the programs at the clinic up and running.
Ms Wallace said the clinic was an important asset for the west because it had a range of different therapies under the one roof.
“I’ve had input into the physical layout of the clinic and it includes smaller rooms where the kids who get upset with loud noises can go to get a quiet moment,” she said.
“There is a lot of pressure on parents with kids with autism and it can lead to divorce so it’s great that the clinic also offers counselling for parents.”
From July 1, the clinic will also run a creche for children with autism aged between three and six.
Ms Mecarcio urged parents to make use of the services.
“We have funded this clinic ourselves so we hope it is successful and we hope to put a lot of money back into autism,” she said.
Details: 9449 9559.
