Currently only children diagnosed before their 6th birthday get funding for intervention to assist with their autism spectrum disorder. Austism in certainly not "curable" and doesnt go away because the child turns 6. Often with kids on the higher functioning end of the spectrum they are seen as immature and often not diagnosed until the early primary school years when the gap between them and their peers developmentally widens. All children with an autism spectrum disorder benefit from intervention but its very costly and families with children diagnosed after their 6th birthday bear the burden of the cost. Often due to the difficulties associated with autism one parent must stay home this places further financial burden on the family resources