Early testing to determine if a child is autistic will be available for the first time on the Island starting Friday.

A new clinic designed to provide support and treatment for autistic children and their families is set to open and will be a breakthrough in Bermuda.

The Assessment and Monitoring Clinic for Autism will provide necessary services for parents who are unable to travel off-Island to get treatment for their child.

The clinic is being launched by Child and Adolescent Services (CAS) with backing from the Bermuda Autism Support and Education (BASE).

Clinical Director for CAS Sharon Apopa said: "Child and Adolescent Services has been drafting as part of the mental health plan a programme and this is just the first part of it. The services that are needed are extensive. Right now, we're focusing on the diagnostic and treatment plan as the first phase."

Dr. Apopa continued: "We are only able as part of our pilot project to do the diagnostics. It's our intention that we will be able to extend the services that are needed. We do have a plan over a period of time.

"We're really looking for a public-private partnership. There are already agencies in the community that are doing some treatment pieces and doing them well. It's our aim to look at establishing a pathway of how people can get from assessment to treatment in a seamless fashion."

Susannah Cole, consultant for BASE, said the clinic was very important as it will provide an early diagnosis. "This also allows for earlier detection. It's vitally important for children. Parents were waiting for up to a year for that appointment overseas.

"I think that the clinic is an absolutely positive first step. It's so essential that you can diagnose this. It's not OK for families to have to travel because we can't diagnose them.

"There's enough children here that it warrants to have a clinic. The number is growing. The number is increasing all over the world. It's not going away. With autism, every child is uniquely different with the diagnosis and their needs." It is estimated that about 200 children in Bermuda are autistic.

The clinic will hold an introductory weekend from June 25 to June 27 at its location on the Mid-Atlantic Wellness Institute (MWI) site.

Ms Cole said: "My understanding is that Dr. Marc Woodbury-Smith will be offering one weekend a month through Child and Adolescent Services through MWI.

"He will be seeing parents to diagnose, as well as providing follow up appointments. The initial appointment will be for a diagnosis, a three hour assessment and then follow-ups are two hours."

She also praised CAS for opening the clinic. "I do feel they should be commended for recognising the need for people having diagnosis on the Island. What it means is that families don't have the expense of travelling to get a diagnosis. It's significant that someone will be here once a month to get the diagnosis and then check in."

She continued: "It's fine to have the diagnosis and be identified and be told 'this is the kind of treatment your child is benefitting from', but we need to make sure that treatment is available on the Island.

"There are those who can afford to get high-end treatment elsewhere and those who can't afford get some treatment here. There is room for more services here.

"Being able to diagnosis a significant first step. It could be the solution for lots of families but at this point provides the foundation."

There will be an open meeting for parents at the MWI main conference room on Friday at 5.30 p.m.