***(UK) Northern Ireland: one/30 kids have autism; 40% in demand for services

May 11, 2019, Belfast Telegraph: Northern Ireland autism services at 'breaking point' as lack of support leaves parents feeling isolated and depressed https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/health/northern-ireland-autism-services-at-breaking-point-as-lack-of-support-leaves-parents-feeling-isolated-and-depressed-38100584.html An autism charity has warned that services are at "breaking point" in Northern Ireland with one in 30 school children now identified as being autistic. New figures from the Department of Health show a significant rise over the last decade in school-aged children identified with autism. One local mother who has a son with Asperger's Syndrome also told the Belfast Telegraph a lack of support left many parents feeling depressed and isolated. The statistics were compiled from the Northern Ireland School Census and show 9,768 school-aged children have autism - out of a total of 30,000 individuals living with autism here. At 3.3% of all pupils in 2018/19, this is a 2.1% increase since 2008/09. … Autism NI CEO Kerry Boyd said the figures were "alarming", but not unexpected. "A report was commissioned by the NI Department of Education which warned of this 'autism wave' of diagnosis back in 2002 and this was the motivation for Autism NI's autism awareness lobby at Stormont which led to the establishment of the Autism Act (NI) in 2011," she said. "Therefore, it is extremely frustrating that because the NI Assembly is not functioning, autism is not getting the right level of attention that is so badly needed." … Autism NI say they are now stretched to full capacity as their family support service has seen a 40% increase in demand for advice and post-diagnosis support. … They also demand mandatory autism training for all teachers and classroom assistants. …