Parents Deb and Jono have been recognised by Autism SA, receiving a parents’ award at a ceremony in Adelaide on Friday night.

They were nominated for the award by special needs teacher Angela Mitchell, who said she was full of admiration for their enthusiasm, energy and positive attitude in dealing with the challenges of raising Jacob, 10, and Luke, 8, as well as Kelly, 5.

Deb and Jono have been energetic advocates for their boys and other autistic children on Kangaroo Island and continue to fight for such things as financial support for families whose children need special help, such as speech pathology or occupational therapy.

The Patients Assistance Scheme, or PATS, is one of Deb’s particular gripes. The scheme pays for transport for remote patients but does not cover allied health, such as speech therapy.

The Schwerdts paid their way to fly with Luke to town once a week for an early intervention program for autistic children.

The two boys have very different needs. Jacob has a strict routine and must know what is going to happen. He likes rules and order and is hypersensitive to noise and stimulus. Jacob is developing language and is considered a “high-functioning” autistic child.

Luke has no language and is just now learning to sign. He is also a “runner” which has presented all sorts of difficulties for the family and at school, and cannot stay still.

“Their disabilities are actually their abilities too,” Deb says. Jacob is an avid reader with a photographic memory who has a gift for numbers. Luke can perform acrobatics on the trampoline while juggling.

Deb says living in a rural community is mostly an asset for the family. The major problem is accessing services but the community support and understanding of the family’s special needs outweighs the inconveniences.

A new Disability SA co-ordinator appointed to the Kangaroo Island Health Service will help re-form a support group for the families of the 10 autistic children on Kangaroo Island and the advent of the Kamar Khusus special education unit last year at the Kingscote campus has proved an educational God-send for the Schwerdt boys and all who help care for them.

As for the future, midwife Deb and former nurse Jono are a tight team who know neither could do it alone and they try not to think too far ahead. More than 85 per cent of parents of autistic children divorce. “When one of us has been away for a few days we just realise you can’t do this job on your own,” Deb said.

“We’re very lucky. Our boys don’t have a lot of the behavioural problems that some autistic kids have and they sleep well, which helps us a lot,” says Jono.

“Kelly is a very caring and accepting sister who is always willing to help her brothers,” he said.

Deb says it can sometimes be sad for Kelly because the boys are busy in their own worlds. “She’s great ‘cos she’ll find ways to make them play with her.”