Playtime: Jacob, Matthew, assistant Tanya and Aligah enjoy the outdoors at Gateways Support Service Geelong West centre.
ERIN PEARSON
INCREASING demand for autism support services has prompted a campaign for a new Geelong West facility.
Gateways Support Services chief executive officer Rosemary Malone said the campaign sought $960,000 for a new wing on the east side of the agency’s Albert Street building.
“It will enable us to increase our services by 30 per cent,”
“The facility will be a bright and welcoming one-stop-shop where children with autism and other disabilities and their families can find support, programs and services in one central place.”
Ms Malone said the state-of-the-art facility would feature a sound-proof assessment suite, occupational therapy and speech therapy rooms, management and psychology programs and social activity areas.
Multi-purpose rooms in the new wing would also be available for community use.
Mrs Malone said autism in the Barwon South West region had increased from one child in 1000 to one in 160 due to “population growth”.
Building works were scheduled to commence in May subject to funding, she said.
Gateways Support Services assists more than 1100 people with disabilities and their families through 29 programs.
