Advocacy groups are pushing for more educational support for autistic individuals in Western Australia.

While the state has specialist learning programs in some schools for students with autism, advocates say this is far from enough to address the concerns people with autism face daily.

WA is the only state in Australia that does not have an autism-specific school. Organisations such as Furthering Autistic Children’s Education and Schooling and its founder, Dr. Emily Pearce, have called for a dedicated autism school in the past.

“The only option for children on the spectrum without an intellectual disability is a mainstream environment, and teachers just don’t have the time or the resources, and often not the training, to provide the individualised learning these kids require,” she told Bethany Hiatt from The West Australian in 2022.

South West Autism Network chief executive Nick Avery disagreed and said: “When we have segregations, a different school system, then people with disability tend to be less safe, and the Disability Royal Commission showed that.”

There are also accessibility concerns since establishing an autism school can be difficult to access for those outside urban areas.

Isolated Children Parents’ Association president Jane Cunningham agreed: “I think what we need in rural, regional and remote Western Australia is more resourcing — our schools more equipped, more staff that are well-trained, and also resources in terms of classroom set up, facilities and equipment for children with autism.”

In a survey of 249 people conducted by South West Autism Network, 70.7 per cent of respondents believed the availability of support for neurodivergent students was poor or very poor.

In 2023, a WA Parliamentary inquiry into supporting autistic children and young people in schools was launched. From August to November 2023, organisations including the WA Department of Education made their cases to the Inquiry committee.

In the report published in March 2024, the committee made 23 recommendations, one being a request to the Education Minister to support the development of a neurodiversity education strategy led by neurodiverse individuals.

With Autism Awareness Month running through April, advocates are seeking to raise awareness about the needs of autistic individuals in education are clear.

Ms Cunningham said: “We should implement the recommendations where appropriate and where they can be, and revisit what came out of the inquiry to try and make changes.”

WA’s new Education Minister Sabine Winton was contacted for comment but did not respond.