New Zealand Autism Spectrum Disorder Guideline - Ministry of Health

Overview
Overview
About the New Zealand Autism Spectrum Disorder Guideline
Foreword
This guideline represents an opportunity to better understand people with autism spectrum
disorder (ASD) and their families, to improve services to people with ASD and their families, and
to help people better understand the information and theories around ASD and its management.
It is a complex world, living with ASD, or supporting a person living with ASD. This guideline
brings together credible information about what has been researched and tested. It is the basis for
a living guideline approach, in which we will continue to build on our knowledge and expertise
by reviewing and re-releasing electronic updates of the guideline as new research and evidence
comes to hand.
This guideline is the first in the world to cover the complete person over their lifetime. We hope
it will be useful to a range of health practitioners, educators, policy-makers and people with ASD
and their caregivers and supporters. The guideline has had input from individuals with ASD,
parents of children with ASD, medical, educational and community providers, government
agencies, and New Zealand and overseas researchers. It represents a groundbreaking collaborative
effort and a significant achievement by all contributors, to whom we give our thanks.
In support of the guideline, the New Zealand Government has allocated $18.16 million over
the next four years towards improving services for people with ASD and their families and
supporters. We also recognise that the guideline is a technical document, and so our ministries will
invest in translating the technical information into practical information for individuals, parents,
and service providers.
We commend the New Zealand ASD Guideline and its goal of improving services to people with
ASD and their families.
Hon Chris Carter
Minister of Education
Hon David Cunliffe
Minister of Health
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New Zealand Autism Spectrum Disorder Guideline