Autism Behavioural Intervention Queensland (ABIQ) is a parent-run charity that provides a parent to parent phone help line and email support to parents/carers of children with autism. ABIQ help families run early intervention programs, provide appropriate responses to all aspects of autism from diagnosis to post school, information on advocacy and education issues, has a resource library of autism-related books, toys and DVD's, and holds an autism friendly Christmas Party every year for family members. ABIQ has been opened for 20 years and want to continue to support families of children with autism. Only another parent can understand the 24 hour demand of having a child with autism. ABIQ has been unable to obtain funding from government or private sources and faces closure if it does not receive funding soon.

Your petitioners, therefore, request the House to urge the State Government to provide support to help keep ABIQ open.