Autism New Zealand is a provider of Early Intervention Services, approved by the Ministry of Education. Our Early intervention Service is called the EarlySteps programme. EarlySteps will provide the earliest possible help to support autistic tamariki (children) and those with a probable autism diagnosis.

We pride ourselves in being the first Ministry of Education funded provider in New Zealand of an autism specific early intervention support service and look forward to making a positive difference.

Who we work with

We work with whānau (families) and kaiako (teachers) involved with the tamariki. While a diagnosis of autism is preferable, where there are queries about tamariki showing signs of autism they may be accepted into the service.

How we work and why

Research in autism has shown the value in engaging autistic tamariki in play and of using everyday activities (e.g. mealtimes, story time) as opportunities for learning. It has also shown that these tamariki learn better in their everyday regular environment.

• The best people to help tamariki learn are whānau and/or the kaiako who are with the tamariki throughout the day and know them well.
• We will coach you in different ways to play and engage your tamaiti/tamariki to help them to learn and develop.
• Coaching will be provided by specialists visiting your whānau and/or early childhood setting to develop effective skills to support the tamariki.

We believe that if we change the ways adults engage and play with autistic tamariki, participation and engagement in play and learning situations will improve.

How we will deliver the service

• Initial home and centre visits to collect background information.
• Developing the Focus for Intervention – individual goals. The Early Intervention Specialist will help whānau identify goals agreed by the whānau and the centre (if involved). The implementation of the focus goals will be regularly monitored by the Early Intervention Specialist.
• The EarlySteps Education Programme – a series of workshops with home visits to practice and consolidate the skills learnt will be offered by specialists with knowledge and experience of autism.
• Video coaching will be a major tool to impart knowledge as well as to demonstrate progress. Videos will be taken and used as a teaching, learning and evaluation tool in relation to the tamariki.
• Attendance at the EarlySteps play group at least once every fortnight to learn together with other parents, to watch the Speech Therapist and Early Intervention Specialist model new strategies and ways to engage your tamaiti.

Education Support Worker

Some tamariki may qualify for additional support. Qualification for additional support means they will get an Education Support Work (ESW) specifically trained by the EarlySteps team to support autistic tamariki.

To register your interest for Early Steps, please complete the form here: Register Your Interest

Please note that Early Steps is currently only available to those living in West Auckland.

Commitment to culture and community

We are committed to meet the needs of all people and cultures who would like to access our services. We take an individualised approach to support Māori, Pasifika and whānau of all cultures through our programmes and services. This can include support in filling out paperwork involved. If you would like support in completing the Registration of Interest (ROI) form, you can contact us by email: earlysteps@autismnz.org.nz or phone: 021 190 3175

Who is this course for?

Families/whānau of young children under 5, currently on a waitlist for Ministry of Health or Ministry of Education or referred through early childhood setting.

What families/whānau will learn

• How play is the key element of child development
• How YOU can make a difference in the child’s development
• How to use the everyday activities and routines of whānau to develop:
  Communicating · Enjoying being together · Sharing attention
  Imitating · Having fun · Planning and problem solving

How the course is structured

• Pre course visit—getting to know your Play Coach
• Learning Session 1: The basics of play – Followed by Home visit 1
• Learning Session 2: Following your child’s lead – Followed by Home visit 2
• Learning Session 3: Using everyday routines
• Following the 3 learning sessions there will be 3 weekly visits to help you use these strategies
• Finally, as a group celebration we will come together to share the things we have learnt and meet each other’s tamariki.

To register your interest for Let’s Play, please complete the form here: Register Your Interest

Please note that Let’s Play is currently only available to those living in Auckland.

Commitment to culture and community

We are committed to meet the needs of all people and cultures who would like to access our services. We take an individualised approach to support Māori, Pasifika and whānau of all cultures through our programmes and services. This can include support in filling out paperwork involved. If you would like support in completing the Registration of Interest (ROI) form, you can contact us by email: letsplay.admin@autismnz.org.nz or phone: 021 190 3175

Free community support - Raupī te Raupō—He Poipoi Tamaiti, He Whaipainga te Āpōpō.

Raupī te Raupō is a newly developed Aotearoa-specific support programme aimed at supporting children to flourish.

The programme aims to help whānau and family members better understand and support children under the age of five who are autistic, or who are showing signs of autism/social communication differences.

Raupī te Raupō has been developed based on ideas from an autistic advisory group and an advisory group of Māori members of the autistic and autism communities.

Therapy structure and length

Each session will be up to one-and-a-half hours long. Sessions will switch between online discussion sessions, and in-home practical sessions.

Discussion sessions will involve you and any other whānau/family members talking with a coach without your child around. You will talk about some strategies that might be helpful for your child, reflect on videos of you and/or the coach supporting your child, plan access to other relevant supports for yourself and your child, and set achievable fortnightly goals.

Practical sessions will involve you, any other whānau/family members, and the coach playing and interacting with your child. Some of these interactions might be videoed to support reflection during the discussion sessions.

You and any other whānau/family members can generally choose the information that you learn about during the programme.

To register your interest for Raupī te Raupō, please complete the form here: Register Your Interest

Please note that Raupī te Raupō is currently only available for those living in Wellington.

Commitment to culture and community

We are committed to meet the needs of all people and cultures who would like to access our services. We take an individualised approach to support Māori, Pasifika and whānau of all cultures through our programmes and services. This can include support in filling out paperwork involved. If you would like support in completing the Registration of Interest (ROI) form, you can contact us by email: RtR@autismnz.org.nz or phone: 021 190 6053.