The NZ Autism Spectrum Disorder Guidelines were officially launched in Parliament on Wednesday 4 April by Minister of Health, Mr David Cunliffe on World Autism Day
NZ is the first country in the world to publish a whole of life guideline, as well as health, education, disability, Maori and Pacific perspectives
The NZ Autism Spectrum Disorder Guideline is a joint project of the Ministries of Health and Education and is based on overseas and New Zealand evidence, experience and practice.
The Ministry of Education and Health have allocated $18.16 million over four years to implement the recommendations of the new guideline.”
The New Zealand Guidelines Group has been awarded a contract to develop an implementation plan, The plan will be developed by the end of June 2008 and an implementation advisory group will be established. This group will be responsible for identifying service gaps and where development in the ASD sector needs to start.
The NZ ASD Guideline is a living guideline, in that it will be reviewed regularly and updated with new research and evidence based material.
The first review is due in 2 years time, and then subsequently it will be reviewed every 5 years.
The original scope (topics) of the guideline did not cover in such topics, as Sexuality, older people on the spectrum for example.
These will be looked at in the next review. The Ministry is currently commissioning a separate review of Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) for the next version of
The guideline.
Versions include a summary version, the full version and a maori, te reo version.
People can either log onto the Ministry of Health website and then from this point people can either download the summary or full version, or email the ministry and request a hard copy (bound) sent to you.
We encourage everyone to get a copy of the guidelines, the guidelines are for everyone and provide good practical information.
Michelle Rivers
National ASD Co-ordinator