By Jessica Nico, Fremantle-Cockburn Gazette
A LACK of funding forced the LEARN Foundation for Autism in East Fremantle to close its doors permanently last week, leaving more than 30 families without essential therapy.
LEARN founder and chief executive Mandy Mason said the centre was forced to appoint a liquidator and close its doors permanently on Tuesday night.
“Providing the best-practice services for young children with autism is a very expensive endeavour and in the past weeks the challenges of doing so with no government funding have pushed us to the brink,” she said.
The centre has catered to more than 200 families in the past three years, catering to the needs of children with autism to allow them to be integrated into regular schooling.
Ms Mason said while she was sad to see the doors close, there was only so much she could do.
“The board of LEARN has supported my efforts and I wish to thank them for their commitment and dedication, but they too acknowledge that we are too few and the task too great to take on without sufficient funding,” she said.
“I want to ensure that the closure is as smooth and as painless as possible for all concerned and to do whatever I can to access alternative services for our families.
“Adele Carles has written to the Premier on our behalf to urge him to review our case and to assist with emergency funding.”