Desperate … A fundraising dinner dance is the only chance Hampton Park girl Claudia Sacco, who suffers from moderate to severe autism, has of a brighter future. By Alison Noonan
A HAMPTON Park mother is calling for community support to give her young autistic daughter a brighter future.
Tania Sacco said she was desperate to raise the funds necessary to provide muchneeded therapy to fouryearold Claudia, who was diagnosed with moderate to severe autism early last year.
She said the therapy was her best chance at enabling Claudia, who cannot speak, is still in nappies and completely dependant, to become selfsufficient.
However, at about $30,000 for the oneonone intensive therapy ABA and $5000 for Tomatis music therapy, it was almost impossible to afford on one wage.
“I don’t work because I am a fulltime mum to Claudia and her sixyearold brother, Jake,” Mrs Sacco said.
“The lack of funding available to aid autistic children in their development is disgusting.
“ABA treatment has a proven track record and we have seen tangible results in Claudia from just three months of Tomatis therapy but we just can’t afford to continue it.
“Claudia used to be completely sound sensitive but after just 15 days of music therapy it virtually went away.
“She only used to be able to understand about half a dozen words but her comprehension has improved so much now I can talk normally to her.
“We desperately need these therapies,” she said.
Mrs Sacco said it was vital for Claudia to begin therapy now if she was to have any chance at a better quality of life.
“Her window is closing. You really need to get them between the ages of three and five.
“She could have a future if only she had access to these services. My husband and I did the course ourselves to try to ease the financial burden but we were unable to devote that much time to study.
“We had to stop her private speech therapy because we couldn’t afford it,” she said.
Mrs Sacco has spent the past few months organising a fundraising dinner dance at the Grand International Entertainment Centre on Friday 4 November to pay for Claudia’s therapy.
“I am trying to think outside the square,” she said.
“I have no other choice. There is no time to be depressed and dwell on things. I have to move forward and do what I need to do to give her some hope,” she said.
Mrs Sacco said community support for the dinner dance had been overwhelming, with many local businesses making donations.
“The community has really got behind this. Everybody who hears about it wants to help. I feel like I’m living in a small country town.
“Hopefully we can raise a couple of thousand to at least be able to continue her Tomatis therapy,” she said.
Tickets for the dinner dance are $40, which includes a threecourse meal, raffles and a DJ.
They are available from Tania on 9799 0901 or 0438 390 002.
