Meadow Springs Education Support Centre has celebrated a decade of their autism early intervention program in Mandurah with a ceremony on Friday, October 26.
The program is one of nine across the state that provide targeted therapy-based intervention to kindy and pre-primary students with a diagnosis of autism without an intellectual disability.
Fully funded by the Department of Education, the program aims to successfully transition the students into mainstream schooling.
Throughout the decade, the program has helped 81 students to achieve their full potential as early learners.
Over 200 people attended Friday afternoon’s ceremony including past and present students and staff, Canning MP Andrew Hastie and Mandurah MP David Templeman.
Mr Templeman praised the efforts of the Meadow Springs Education Support Centre staff.
“This intervention program has been highly successful,” he said.
“It’s very important and we know that this work needs to continue into the future.
“Congratulations on ten years. We look forward to continued wonderful success.”
Mr Hastie also applauded the workers behind the success of the intervention program.
“Eighty-one young lives have been touched and inspired by the work you do here,” he said.
“I want to support you in this great work of yours and I hope I’m around for the 20 year anniversary.”
School band, The Wobbles, played some Wiggles classics for the children and Dorothy the Dinosaur was a crowd favourite.
There was also a bouncy castle, plenty of interactive activities and the unveiling of a commemorative plaque.
North Mandurah Primary School will also run an autism special learning program in 2019 to accommodate for increased numbers of children being diagnosed with autism.
Meadow Springs Education Support Centre Principal Gwen Evans said she was working closely with North Mandurah Principal James Peletier to develop a collaborative approach to supporting students with autism in Mandurah.
