A new programme to identify and support children showing signs of autism is being piloted at Te Herenga Waka-Victoria University of Wellington.
Raupī te Raupō will give 60 families one-to-one support sessions, over 10 weeks, to help them better understand and support their child.
Autism Clinic lead Dr Hannah Waddington said the programme encourages early diagnosis, so parents and caregivers can access the right tools to support their child as early as possible.
Three-year-old Mateo Pacheco is an example of the benefits that can result from early diagnosis.
His parents Hannah Burgess and Edgar Pacheco sought advice when he was just two years old, after they began noticing differences in his behaviour.
It was a daunting decision for the pair, but one they said has paid off.
"I think some of those initial fears sort of stem from a bit of a lack of understanding on my part," said Burgess.
The Raupī te Raupō programme hopes to change that, by educating parents and caregivers about the condition and coaching them through strategies to deal with the challenges that may arise.
"Early identification to support is associated with better long-term outcomes, things like more likely to be able to be included in a mainstream setting, better cognitive outcomes," said Dr Waddington.
It can also reduce the need for costly ongoing support in later life.
But Dr Waddington said the early signs are often missed and families can be waiting for more than a year to receive an official diagnosis through the public system.
The programme has trained 300 health and education professionals in the capital to identify early signs of autism and refer children and their families to the clinic.
Parents can also use the free AS Detect App to help identify the signs themselves.
Dr Waddington said with further funding, the programme could be rolled out nationwide.
Families involved in the pilot will begin receiving support next month.
