THE Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) has marked World Autism Awareness Day today with a new guide designed to help autistic people better understand how their pharmacist can support their medicine and health needs.
The guide - Your medicines, your pharmacist - was supported by a grant from the South Australian Government Office for Autism and developed in partnership with Autism SA, expert pharmacists, and working group members with lived experience of autism, to ensure the guide is optimised for the autistic community.
PSA South Australia and Northern Territory president Adjunct Professor Manya Angley was a key developer of the guide, and highlighted its value in helping autistic people and their families to make the most of the support pharmacists can offer.
"The guide is very close to my heart," Prof Angley said.
"As a family member of an autistic person, I've seen firsthand how important it is for autistic people and their families to feel supported and understood within the healthcare system.
"For decades, I have been advocating for pharmacists to play a bigger role in the care of autistic people," she continued.
"Community pharmacists are highly accessible and can provide vital support, from everyday advice in the pharmacy to more in-depth medication reviews that help ensure medicines are safe, effective, and tailored to individual needs."
The guide covers dose administration aids, medication management review, compounding medicines, the take-home naloxone program and more.
World Autism Awareness Day is marked annually on 02 Apr and aims to "increase the understanding, acceptance, and inclusion of autistic people by promoting autism awareness and emphasising the importance of accessible, supportive services within the community".
Access the guide HERE.
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