It is now two years since Caroline Pastor (D’Argent), whom many will remember as an enthusiastic and energetic Case Manager in Perth, returned to her native Mauritius. In this time she has got married and set up a very busy practice working with Autism, of course, both in home and working in a school setting where she has trained therapists, which suits the local needs more. She now has ambitious plans to expand and has been successful in getting sponsorship. If all goes well ISADD is hoping to be in a position to provide support and help to extend information on Autism and ABA into a country where at this stage little is provided, yet there is a growing number of parents well aware of the problems they are facing. We wish her well on her new project.

Awareness of Autism, its prevalence and its implications is slowly growing. This still leaves a long way to go to make ABA intervention accessible, but awareness by paediatricians and neurologists means that diagnosis will be available for younger children.

Parents are also stirring, and gathering into groups to seek and spread information. A new parent group, ‘Children of the Rain’ was recently formed. There is also a new umbrella organization linking providers and advocacy groups being formed which hopefully will give disabilities a common voice. ISADD is looking towards restructuring its management to fit in with all of this and to be able to have more direct contact with parents in the future. To achieve this we welcomed Jurgita Race, an experienced teacher and manager onto our team.

When Jura visited in August many new children were assessed. Jura will again be in Lithuania in late October

To Laura Holmes (Vic) Program Manager on the arrival of her second child, Nathan Thomas Holmes, on Oct 1st.

To Amanda di Russo (WA) Psychologist who in her private life is now Mrs. Amanda Smith.