Sod turns on new AEIOU Townsville as Layla Chapman says it changed her son’s life

The number of Townsville families whose autistic children can go to the ‘amazing’ AEIOU Foundation centre will soon increase. See why one woman loves the place.

AEIOU Foundation expanding to Townsville. Foundation chair Susan Rix with mums Shae Holt and Layla Chapman. Picture: Evan Morgan

A new autism centre in Townsville will mean the world to families like Layla Chapman’s.

Her five-year-old son Miles has stopped hurting himself when he’s frustrated.

He even learnt to communicate thanks to the teachers at the AEIOU Foundation in Townsville and now more families will benefit from a bigger, better centre.

On Wednesday state and federal politicians came together with AEIOU Foundation staff and builders to turn the sod on a new centre in Idalia.

The old centre in Kirwan could have up to 20 kids, the new one can have up to 30, with an additional third classroom.

AEIOU Foundation expanding to Townsville. Layla Chapman. Picture: Evan Morgan

The AEIOU Foundation runs early-intervention autism centres, for two to six-year-olds. There are 11 centres in the ACT, Queensland and South Australia.

Ms Chapman, 37 of Thuringowa Central, wishes there was a “big kid version” of AEIOU, because her son Miles loves going there.

AEIOU Foundation expanding to Townsville. Foundation CEO Alan Smith, Foundation chair Sisan Rix, Assistant Tresurer Stephen Jones and Mundingburra MP Les Walker. Picture: Evan Morgan

“He loves his teachers and he misses them when they go on leave,” she said.

The NDIS covers $1500 to $1800 per week for Miles, Ms Chapman said, which is “totally worth it, the difference is amazing”.

After a daycare subsidy her family pays just over $100 a week.

Miles has sensory issues and the foundation helped figure out how to interact with him.

He used to bang his head against a wall when he was frustrated, now he’s able to communicate his feelings, Ms Chapman said.

“He doesn’t feel like he’s being forced to learn,” she said.

When she first learnt Miles had autism, she remembers being overwhelmed reading about the high rates of suicide among autistic people.

“It’s the emotional regulation that’s helped him and us the most,” Ms Chapman said.

Ms Chapman and her husband Neil are now searching for a primary school for their only child, which will require some thought.

“Because he’s so intelligent, he does not meet the bar for TCLC (Townsville Community Learning Centre),” Ms Chapman said.

“We’ve heard lots of good things about Heatley (State School).”

Even though her son will soon depart the AEIOU centre, Ms Chapman wanted to celebrate the expansion by attending the sod turning on Wednesday.

“Other families can access the service with a bigger centre, which is exactly why I’m here.” AEIOU chief executive Alan Smith thanked federal and state MPs for their support.

The federal government committed $2m to the project, and the state government kicked in $1m.

Hutchinson Builders had agreed to build the centre at cost and planned to have it done in hopefully six months, Mr Smith said.

Private philanthropy and community fundraising had been essential with construction costs doubling in recent years, Mr Smith said.

The term autism covers a group of neurodevelopmental conditions that affect social interaction, communication, behaviours and interests.

As of 2018, more than 200,000 Australians had been diagnosed, according to the Federal Department of Social Services.

Originally published as Sod turns on new AEIOU Townsville as Layla Chapman says it changed her son’s life