A LITTLE girl who has autism is undergoing an intensive therapy program and her parents are appealing for donations to fund much-needed equipment.

Jodie Burt, five, of Spring-bourne, has difficulty communicating and for the past two years has been following a 40-hour a week applied behavioural analysis programme. It costs around £20,000 a year and though the local education authority funds the majority, in two years time the family may have to pay for Jodie's therapy themselves.

Jodie's mother Andrea Burt said: "Since the therapy began Jodie is finding ways of communicating. She says the odd word and can sing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star all the way through. Little things like that mean a lot to us. She is much happier since the therapy."

Jodie currently attends pre-school and in September she will go to Stourfield School in Southbourne, accompanied by her therapist.

Mrs Burt said: "Had we not chosen this programme of therapy for Jodie I think she would have been institutionalised.

"Jodie was about one-and-a- half when we first realised that something was wrong. And when she was two-and-a-half her nursery school noticed irregularities in her behaviour. She wasn't talking or responding to her name and when they suggested it might be autism my world caved in on me.

"It's been a complete life change for the family. I live and breathe the therapy programme - it's very stressful but also rewarding."

Between 9am and 4.15pm, six days a week, two therapists visit Jodie and teach her how to dress herself and how to play and communicate.

Jodie loves listening to CDs and watching Disney films and she needs stimulating toys and games.

Mrs Burt said: "She needs a CD player and tape player and toys that provide some kind of stimuli, such as puzzles."

On June 21 at 7pm the family is holding a fund-raising auction at the Durley Hall Hotel.

Steve Fletcher will make a guest appearance and various sporting memorabilia and other items will be auctioned.

Every £7 donated pays for one hour of therapy. But money is also needed to pay for training seminars, toys and equipment for Jodie's program.

For more information or to make a donation contact the family via e-mail on andrea@burt38.fsnet.co.uk