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National position: appropriate education for students with ASD

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In April 2010, Australia's Autism Month, the Australian Advisory Board on Autism Spectrum Disorders (AAB ASD) launched its position paper on Education and Autism Spectrum Disorders in Australia: The provision of appropriate educational services for school-age students with Autism Spectrum Disorders in Australia.

The Australian Advisory Board on Autism Spectrum Disorders calls for educational services for school-aged Australian children and adolescents with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) that are governed by the following principles:

Outrage over Seven Hills West Public School putting autistic children in cage

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By Lisa Martin, From: AAP, March 11, 2010 6:01PM

  • Autistic children kept in fenced area
  • Treatment inhumane, says NSW Opposition
  • Matter of safety, says Education Department

A SYDNEY primary school that pens children with autism in a fenced area at lunchtimes should be investigated for human rights violations, the New South Wales Opposition says.

Parents with children at Seven Hills West Public School are angry that pupils with special needs are placed inside a fenced enclosure that has one tree, a bench and a dirt floor.

One in a hundred adults have an autism spectrum disorder, says pioneering new study

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The world's first ever study into the prevalence of autism spectrum disorders among adults shows that one in every hundred adults living in households has the condition – broadly the same rate as that cited for children.

While studies have been carried out into the prevalence of autism spectrum disorders among children, the report from The NHS Information Centre is the first attempt to find and count adults and older people in the community with an autism spectrum disorder, including asperger syndrome.

Autism Spectrum Disorders in adults living in households throughout England

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report from the Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey 2007

Summary

This report presents data on the presence of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), based on the data collected at phases one and two of the Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey (APMS) 2007. These findings were not included in the initial survey report. Estimated disorder prevalence is presented by age, sex, ethnic group, marital status, highest educational qualification, equivalised household income, economic activity status, receipt of benefits, housing tenure, area level deprivation and predicted verbal IQ. The level and nature of treatment and service use is considered, although the sample size means that this cannot be explored in detail.

advocacy and charitable status

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The recent Federal Court decision in the matter Commissioner of Taxation v Aid/Watch Incorporated 2009 says
that an advocacy and lobbying organisation, such as A4, cannot be seen as a charitable for tax purposes.

Such a decision has major implications about how advocacy groups operate.

Here are some links to commentary on the issue ...

Government announces Autism Spectrum Disorder register

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Media Release

BILL SHORTEN MP
Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Children’s Services
Parliamentary Secretary for Victorian Bushfire Reconstruction

Thursday, August 20, 2009

The Australian Government has given its support to a National Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Register to better track the incidence of the condition in Australia.

Bill Shorten, Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Children’s Services, today announced the Register at the Asia Pacific Autism Conference 2009.

A first for autism child-care

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La Trobe University has been chosen by the Federal Government as Victorian service provider under its new national Autism Specific Early Learning and Care Centres program.

In partnership with the Royal Children’s Hospital, the University will receive $4 million over four years to develop such a centre, co-located with its Community Children’s Centre on the main Melbourne campus at Bundoora.

Community and Disability Services Ministers’ Conference Communique

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from www.csmac.gov.au/.../2009%20-%206%20March%20-%20CDSMC%20Meeting%20Communique.doc

Unlocking The Inner-Savant In All Of Us

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We are all capable of the extraordinary savant skills displayed by people with autism according to Professor Allan Snyder, speaking at the Royal Society today. Snyder argues that it is our inbuilt expectations of the world that stop us from using them.

Prof Snyder spoke on the savant syndrome and his efforts to 'turn on' autistic savant skills in people who don't have autism at a discussion meeting jointly organised by the Royal Society and the British Academy. Snyder is director of the Centre for the Mind at the University of Sydney, Australia.

$190 million boost for children with autism and their families

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Joint Media Release with  The Hon Nicola Roxon MP, Minister for Health and Ageing
The Hon Brendan O'Connor MP, Acting Minister for Education
The Hon Bill Shorten MP, Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Children's Services

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