DOCUMENT 19
FOI 22/23-0633
Advisory Team Advice Form – Request No: s47F - personal privacy
Request title: Request for NDIS to fund Applied Behavioural Analysis (ABA) link therapy and Music Therapy for a 10-year-old child with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
Date requested received: s47F - personal privacy
Advisor: s22(1)(a)(ii) - irrelevant material
Summary and review of documents/literature/verbal information
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Raising Children Network; Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) is a behavioral type of therapy claimed to improve social, communication and academic skills and skills for daily living, and decreases difficult behaviour. The ABA theory identifies various teaching techniques that generally involve breaking down complex skills (or behaviours) into smaller steps and teaching them through the use of clear instructions, rewards and repetition. Research has shown established positive results however the therapy is high intensity that is required for effectiveness.
ABA approach and its techniques can help children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) learn new ways of interacting with others, improve academically and use the skills they learn in different settings – for example, at home, school and in the community.
Given the variation how ABA is applied, outcomes of specific programs need to be evaluated to judge their success. Parents usually play an active role in a child’s ABA program to help a child transfer skills learned to other contexts.
Autism Spectrum Disorder: Evidence-based/evidence-informed good practice for supports provided to preschool children, their families and carers.
Autism Spectrum Disorder – evidence based.
s47F - personal privacy “Reviews and guidelines that provide evidence about intensity (hours per week) and duration of intervention report that comprehensive programs that have been evaluated and shown to be effective are most commonly provided for between 15 and 25 hours a week, suggesting a midpoint of 20 hours and for at least 1 year. “ A further statement clarifies, “Factors , other than evidence about intervention effectiveness, that need to be taken into account when making decisions about the level of support for young children included ethical and equity considerations , and also the way parents adjust to their child and their individual needs” It should be noted that while this report is related to good practice for children aged from birth to school age, there is some evidence that ABA is considered suitable for children and adults with development disabilities including autism spectrum disorder (Raising Children).
Page 292 of 299In this document this is further clarified “interventions can be delivered by professionals, parents/carers and siblings/peers.” pg. 17.
This information highlights the following factors:
- An intervention is effective if applied on a regular and intensive basis.
- Further factors need to be considered regarding the child’s individual needs (ability to respond to this type of intervention).
- The intervention can be delivered by a trained practitioner, a parent or a sibling.
Music Therapy;
s22(1)(a)(ii) - irrelevant material
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NDIS Act 2013 Section 34
NDIS Support for Participant Rules 2013 Schedule 1 - School Education
7.13 The NDIS will be responsible for supports that a student requires that are associated with the functional impact of the student’s disability on their activities of daily living (that is, those not primarily relating to education or training attainment), such as personal care and support, transport to and from school and specialist supports for transition from school education to further education, training or employment that are required because of the student’s disability.
7.14 The NDIS will not be responsible for personalising either learning or supports for students that primarily relate to their educational attainment (including teaching, learning assistance and aids, school building modifications and transport between school activities).
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Opinion/Advice:
As per the NDIS Act (2013), all criteria in Section 34 must be met to determine whether a request for supports is considered reasonable and necessary.
ABA intervention:
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Music Therapy:
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Recommendations: s47F - personal privacy
Cleared by: redacted
Date: redacted 2017
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When using this advice to assist with decision making it should be dealt with carefully.
The Technical Advisory Team (TAT) is not the decision maker. Decision makers should base their decisions on the relevant law, and take into account the TAT advice and other relevant factors. The decision letter should be a self-contained document with the decision maker’s reasons set out. Reasons contained in the TAT advice may be paraphrased in the decision as the decision maker’s reasons, however the TAT advice (or its existence) should not be disclosed.
Taking these steps will avoid the risk of the advice being disclosed in any potential future legal proceedings. If this is unclear, you should contact your Service Delivery Director to discuss.