NO PRE-SCHOOL children in Melbourne's northern suburbs - including some of the city's most disadvantaged families - can get into the state's early intervention programs before 2013, as all appointments for next year are full.

Children with disabilities such as Down syndrome and autism referred nine months ago will not get state-employed speech or occupational therapy until the year after next, according to documents seen by The Age, as waiting times in the northern region stretch up to 22 months.

Kim Mace and Hans Breet with their autistic son, Callen, 7: They sought help when he was 15 months but he was not diagnosed until he was nearly four years old. Credit:Angela Wylie

Around 55 children on the northern region's waiting list will start school next year without any therapy, even though the Education Department stresses the importance of early intervention.

Budget cuts have reduced services, according to therapists employed by the Education Department's specialist children's services. They say vacant positions remain unfilled and consulting times have been radically reduced.