Autism Service Applicants Booming

By Ulul Maskuriah

Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan (Antaranews) - Prospective students in a free autism service of South Kalimantan 

Education Agency are booming that the management can not accommodate the majority of applicants.

The Head of Center for Autism Services (PLA), Bustaniah, here on Thursday revealed, still limited room make the 

schools can not accommodate some children who have signed up.

"So a total of 18 children with special needs are now a waiting list for entry in the PLA," she said.

PLA is located in the complex of Perdagangan, Kayutangi, Banjarmasin, newly opened in August 2013, but had a lot of parents who have children with autism signed up for the service.

However, due to space and support facilities are limited, the management only receives 40 students who served by 16 teachers or therapists.

The PLA does not collect payment to parents because the central government has given assistance through the state 

budget in the first year, and operations were taken from the budget of South Kalimantan.

Students will have to go through a selection process to determine whether the child is really suffering from autism or not. If assessed positively, children to be learn what they required in this service.

"We prioritize children of school age, but do not close the opportunity for preschool or under the age of 17 years," said Bustaniah.

Head of South Kalimantan Education Agency Ngadimun say this is the second PLA built in Indonesia after the firts PLA's newly inaugurated in Malang.

It built at a cost of Rp3,4 billion plus operating costs Rp1 billion and include equipment from the Ministry of Education and Culture, while the land is owned by the Government of South Kalimantan Province. It plan to be unveiled in early 2014 , after all the buildings and supporting facilities are complete and completely ready to operate.