Autistic Citizens Residential &
Resources Society of Victoria Inc.

History

Origins of the ACR & RSV

The Autistic Citizens' Residential and Resources Society of Victoria Inc. ( ACR & RSV) was established in the early 1980's. It's beginnings were the result of concerned parents of adolescents and older children with autism becoming aware that the condition was not just going to disappear as their son or daughter became an adult.

They knew that many individuals would require specialised support for a long period, if not for all their adult lives.   At this time in Victoria, Australia there were some generic service options available,   however most had little or no understanding of the unique nature of autism.   These day services at the time were predominantly focused around art and craft activities, very few having a developmental approach to skill acquisition for adults.

After several years of unsuccessful funding applications the Society took the then unusual step of hiring a professional to explore and research the community needs.   The result was a comprehensive document that articulated the future direction of the Society.   In adopting these recommendations the Committee members showed, and not for the last time, a remarkable ability to put aside previously held ideas and ideals and take a radical U-turn in their approach.

The previous funding applications of the Society had been for farm-based models of mixed residential and day care. It was evident that the funding bodies, both State and Federal were not interested in this model as it went (or was thought to go) against the concept of integration.   Thus, this approach was replaced by the concept of outreach (or on site consultancy), which it was successfully argued, would increase the skill base of the generic organisations, enable the individual with ASD to get better programs and would reduce the instances of inappropriate reactions from clients that stemmed from staff misunderstanding the needs or abilities of the person with autism.

After many years of seeking funding, the Society was finally successful, in early 1984, with its new approach.

The Outreach Program has operated continuously since 1984.  Now under the name of Information Service, the aim is still basically the same, to help people with autism be better understood within the community.   Flushed with success from this breakthrough, the Society, two years later was successful in establishing the first specialist autism adult day service in the State, and possibly Australia.

Now the Society thought it was on a roll, but the next years saw the notion of specialist services put under extreme scrutiny and funding, if it were possible, become even more difficult to extract from the relevant funding bodies.   The Society came extremely close to shutting it's doors on several occasions, and it was only because the assistance of Mansfield Autistic Centre, Victorian Autistic Children and Adults Association and a donation from the Stegley Foundation that the Society survived.

In the early 1990's the Society's funding changed from a Federal to a State base as part of the Commonwealth State Disability Agreement.   This meant we had to re-justify our service model to the new funding agency.   Despite some difficult times the Society was able to develop a number of new services with the assistance and support of the various State Governments of Victoria.

The Society commenced an employment service in the mid 90's and some years later developed an accredited Certificate Course for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder wanting to enter employment or live independently.  The Society is a Registered Training Organisation.

By the year 2000 the Society had become quite a large organisation, it had effectively grown to the size that, years prior, its members had indicated was ideal.  Thus a new plan was needed.

In 2001, the Committee and members of the ACR & RSV Inc. decided, after much debate, consultation and consideration to form a new entity to take over the operation of the majority of existing services.   An array of services that had gained an enviable reputation, witnessed by the Department investing several million dollars in capital and buildings for the Society over the past few years. The new arrangements came into place mid 2002

This change now allows the Society to concentrate on both service provision (information, independent accommodation and training) and to begin a five-year effort to develop new service options.

The fact that the diagnostic incidence of ASD now generally acknowledged as at least 25 persons per 10,000, and often quoted as closer to 100 per 10,000 meant that there will be a huge number of adults needing some assistance in a few years time,

ACR & RSV wants to plan ahead to avert a support crisis.   This is the impetus behind the change.   But other factors come into play as well, for instance it is also vital to address the lack of services and supports in rural areas.

The ACR & RSV has achieved a lot in the past years, with care and determination, more will be done to assist people with Autism Spectrum Disorder in the future.

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