Autism support in Malta: where to start as a parent

Is there an autism specialist in Malta?

Yes, but “autism specialist” covers different professionals, and which one you need depends on your question. A diagnosis comes from doctors and psychologists, including through the Child Development Assessment Unit. Therapy such as speech and language or occupational therapy comes from registered therapists, public or private. Support at school runs through your child’s school and Malta’s Autism Spectrum Support Team. Practical help at home and with school arrangements is where consultants like me fit in, alongside all of the above.

[confirm: how referrals to the CDAU currently work, and whether to mention private assessment]

So when you ask where to start, the honest answer is that the starting point changes with what you’re looking for. You may need several of these professionals, not one.

What do schools in Malta provide?

Malta’s policy is to include children with special educational needs in mainstream schools. A child is formally recognised as having special educational needs after the Statementing Moderating Panel and Appeals Board reviews written assessments, together with parents and professionals. Once recognised, the child has an IEP, which Malta calls the Individualised Educational Programme. It follows the National Curriculum Framework, with adaptations. I have written a guide to IEPs in Malta if you want to know what to look for in one.

Support in the classroom usually comes through a Learning Support Educator, who may work one-to-one, share a class, or be shared between learners. The LSE works closely with the class teacher. Depending on need, extra support can include the Autism Spectrum Support Team, the Early Intervention Service, learning support zones and nurture groups, the School Psycho-Social Services, the school’s Head of Department for Inclusion, and autism units.

Beyond individual schools, Malta has four Resource Centres and six Learning Support Centres. A team of professionals advises families there, and parents keep the right to decide which provision is best for their child. Autism Spectrum Support Team staff attend IEP meetings, IEP reviews, transition meetings and case conferences, so it is worth asking whether they are involved with your child.

What support is there for parents?

You don’t have to manage this alone. The Autism Parents Association is a parents’ association in Malta, and connecting with other families who are going through the same thing can help as much as any advice.

On the practical side, what you may be entitled to in benefits and allowances depends on your child’s situation, and those figures change over time, so I don’t list amounts here. [confirm: which government service to name for disability-related benefits]

You will also wonder whether therapy is free in Malta. Public services exist, including the CDAU, but news reports describe waiting times. Private services are an option many families weigh up. The best thing is to ask each service directly about waits and costs, because that information shifts and only the service itself can tell you where you stand.

What can I do if I’m struggling?

Struggling doesn’t mean you’re failing. It means you need more support, and that is a reasonable thing to ask for.

You can start this week by writing down what happens before the hard moments, the time, what was asked, what came before. Patterns show up faster on paper. Making the day predictable helps too: same order, same route, a warning before changes. A visual schedule shows what comes next without you repeating yourself. At the hardest time of day, lower the demands, fewer instructions, less noise, one thing at a time. Keep a calm place ready somewhere your child can go when things get too much. And take a break yourself. Ask a partner, relative or friend for an hour. Needing help is practical, not shameful.

If anyone is in danger, call 112.

I work alongside Malta’s services, not instead of them. I don’t diagnose or do therapy. What I offer is practical support at home and with school: making sense of reports, planning routines, and preparing for IEP meetings. I have a Master’s degree in Autism and Developmental Disorders, and I work in English and Italian, in person in Malta or online. More on my autism support for parents page.

Sources: Eurydice (European Commission), Malta: Special education needs provision within mainstream education and Separate special education needs provision, read 25 September 2026; Student Wellbeing Services (gov.mt), Autism Spectrum Support Team page.