AT TWO years old, Zac Nechvatal’s fascination with his toy train set began to escalate to an unhealthy level.
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He would obsessively place the carriages in a line, and if they were disturbed, he would run through the house crying and punching himself in the head.
He is one of between 128 and 202 Wagga children living with autism, according to Autism Link NSW.
A 79 per cent rise in the region’s diagnoses since 2009 has cast a new spotlight on the surprisingly common condition.
When Tony Nechvatal’s two young boys Zac and Ryan attended their first playgroup, he suspected something was wrong.
Zac and Ryan were later assessed by a paediatrician and both found to be autistic.
Since then, Mr Nechvatal has fought an uphill battle trying to access local support services and resources.
“My boys can sometimes be perfectly normal and relaxed, but then they can have a bad day where they get very angry and upset with things,” he said.
The twins, both now 13, have had difficulties communicating their entire life.
“They often get frustrated because they’ll go to school and won’t be able to talk to their friends or teachers,” he added.
“It’s vital for them to get the social interaction and the support and respite they desperately need.
“With limited space and resources, every bit of help you can get is a blessing.”
He praised the efforts of the Kurrajong Early Childhood Intervention Service, which has helped him and his family “immensely”.
Managing director of Autism Link Rebecca Keysers, who herself has raised an autistic child, has called for an increase in the amount of autism support services.
“With growing numbers of children being affected by autism, community support is vital to help them lead happy and connected lives,” she said.
“Without the correct support services and resources, the quality of life for kids with autism may be detrimentally affected.
“They may feel as though they don’t belong and find it difficult to form friendships.”
Autism is a lifelong developmental condition that affects the way an individual relates to their environment and interacts with other people. It is believed to affect one in every 100 children.
Parents who think their child has symptoms should contact their GP.