AEIOU News
AEIOU honoured at state disability awards
Wed, 16 Sep 09
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
AEIOU honoured at state disability awards
AEIOU - for children with autism has been honoured for improving the quality of life for people with a disability at a disability action awards ceremony in Brisbane today.
Disability Services Minister Annastacia Palaszczuk today presented AEIOU with the Disability Organisation Award at Queensland's Disability Action Week Awards 2009.
Ms Palaszczuk said the awards acknowledged individuals and organisations who were making a real difference for Queenslanders with a disability, their families and carers.
"AEIOU is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to providing an early intervention and learning program for children aged 2½ to 5 years who have been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders," Ms Palaszczuk said.
"Through their five Queensland centres, AEIOU has helped more than 100 children and their families.
"The AEIOU program strives to ensure that every child has the opportunity to reach their full potential and transition to mainstream education by helping them develop the necessary skills to communicate, socialise and adapt to their unique sensory processing issues.
"The children are supported by a full time team of speech pathologists, occupational therapists and early childhood teachers who create an intensive individual program to meet the specific needs of each child and family.
"As families are the key people in supporting a child's development, AEIOU works closely with a child's parents and siblings in the program.
"Through increased awareness and fundraising, AEIOU is striving to provide services to as many Queensland children as possible and expand their services to all families regardless of cultural, social or economic background."
The Disability Organisation Award was sponsored by Randstad.
Ms Palaszczuk said 12 individuals and organisations from across Queensland were presented with awards in six categories at this year's ceremony.
"Today we acknowledge people who have made a significant contribution to people with a disability living in communities across Queensland," Ms Palaszczuk said.
"We're also recognising and valuing the efforts of organisations that are making a difference for people with a disability and their families and carers in sectors such as education, private enterprise and Government.
"The Awards are a highlight of Disability Action Week, which continues until Saturday 19 September.
"Disability Action Week helps to create greater awareness about the challenges faced by people with a disability everyday, as well as the positive achievements and contribution people with a disability make in enriching their communities and Queensland."
For more information on how Disability Services Queensland is making a difference for people with a disability visit: www.disability.qld.gov.au
