Australia needs a better system for diagnosing autism in the wake of dramatically rising prevalence rates that The Weekend Australian correctly reports have contributed to a demand in the school system for support that is not available (“Crisis in the classroom”).

It is beyond dispute that the numbers of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder have risen considerably over the past three decades. This trend is not unique to Australia and is observed across the Western world.

GPs should be given stronger guidance about how to diagnose autism to prevent “doctor shopping” by desperate families trying to access funding for their children that is tied to a medical ­definition, researchers say.

New, nationally consistent guidelines that crack down on fluid interpretations of the international Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM-V) — the global yardstick for identifying a suite of mental disorders — would push down prevalence rates, which have been climbing dramatically in Australia for years.

“Autism explosion”, declared The Australian’s headline on January 15. “Schools failing”. Journalist Rick Morton’s piece led with an alleged:

… crisis in schools that education systems are unable or willing to fix.

Imagine starting your first year of school with a ­volcano inside you. The sound of a ticking fan could overwhelm your senses or the heat from another’s body might stoke its rumbling. Any number of noises or smells can trigger the meltdown of an autistic child who might explode at home if one food touches another on the dinner plate. They might suddenly throw themselves onto the floor, screaming, hitting and kicking out at ­anyone who tries to restrain them.

The report is available at http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Educatio…

It contains: 

RECOMMENDATIONS

Recommendation 1

4.75 The committee recommends that the government commits to funding schools on the basis of need, according to the Gonski Review.

Recommendation 2

A Senate committee has released a scathing report on the state of school education for children with disabilities.

The cross-party Education and Employment References Committee chaired by Labor Senator Sue Lines recommended more funding to assist students with a disability and the schools that they attend, better teacher training and a more coordinated, national approach to identifying areas of need.

Senator Lines told 7.30 she was "shocked" by the evidence the committee heard.

A dramatic rise in autism diag­noses has fuelled a surge in the number of students with disabil­ities, sparking a crisis in schools that education systems are unable or unwilling to fix.

A Senate inquiry into the issue reported yesterday that the education system was failing stud­ents, who were being excluded from enrolling because their disabilities were seen as a problem for individual schools.

Mindfulness, a meditative practice focusing on attention and awareness training, has been shown to have positive effects on mental and physical wellbeing. A recent review of studies has also shown that mindfulness meditation helps people with intellectual disabilities and autism spectrum disorder reduce their mental and physical problems.

Dear The Hon C Porter MP

Autism Aspergers Advocacy Australia (known as A4) received the response below from Gary Knox to our email that asked several questions.

Mr Knox's response describes material that is well known to us; particularly in relation to Impairment Table 7 - Brain Function. And it describes Centrelink's review system and the possibility of appealing a review to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.