They say guidelines have blocked families from using promised federal government funding, five months after a national program began.

The group's spokeswoman, Monique Blakemore of Ngunnawal, said the course planned for next month was approved by the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs but the provider was not.

Department officials said they were aware of the problems for Canberra families and were looking at options to help them.

The national program begun by the Howard government provides $12,000 over two years for autism services for children up to six-years-old not attending school.

The guidelines require providers to adopt a multi-disciplinary approach in their business model where speech therapists, occupational therapists and psychologists form a consortium instead of operating as sole traders.

Canberra parents were not able to access the federal funding for the course because the provider has not been approved.

''The course is a light at the end of the tunnel for many parents who are desperate to see change, who are desperate to see their children communicate and are desperate, selfishly, to hear their children say their name,'' she said.

A department spokesman confirmed organisations must deliver multi-disciplinary services to be eligible for funding.

''The department is assisting services to partner with appropriate allied health providers in order to deliver multi-disciplinary early intervention services,'' he said.

''The department has had ongoing communications with a number of providers ... and also with Mrs Monique Blakemore to explore suitable options for ACT families and will continue to do so.''