Government investigates 246 reports of abuse of disabled children in NSW schools

By bobb |
mother, child and father walking down a road

Andrew Taylor

A leading advocate for children with disabilities has accused the NSW government of failing to properly investigate allegations of child abuse.

David Roy, a lecturer in education at the University of Newcastle, said teachers feared losing their jobs if they report mistreatment, while abusers were protected.

ABC 7.30 Report: Mum 'gobsmacked' at school's response to autistic son being tied to restraining chair

By bobb |
mother, son and father walking along a road

Warning: this is a very distressing story

Brigid Glanville

A mother whose autistic son was strapped to a restraining chair in class was asked if she would prefer a "more aesthetically pleasing chair" when she confronted the school about the seven-year-old's treatment.

The video for this story is at http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-10-09/hundreds-of-complaints-of-abuse-o…

Key points:

  • Almost 250 reported incidents of abuse or neglect of disabled students in government schools since 2015
  • Complaints include children being strapped into restraining chairs
  • Abuse includes physical abuse and neglect

Champion athlete with autism completes a 4,000km run across Australia

By bobb |
Dane in hi-vis vest after his run

Bianca Gurra

Running from one side of Australia to the other is a feat most of us would never even dream of attempting, but Dane Waites has done just that.

Mr Waites is an elite athlete who was born with autism spectrum disorder, and developed a passion for running as young child.

As is the case with many people living with autism, Mr Waites has also battled with depression throughout his life.

Damning report into NSW schools finds 'unacceptable' mistreatment

By bobb |
photo of Carlos (neutral expression)

For nearly six months, Nicole Lim says her son Carlos Blanch, who has autism and is non-verbal, came home from school every week with cuts and bruises on his arms and legs.

The first time it happened, in March this year, Ms Lim went straight to the principal to ask for better supervision for Carlos, 11, who is in year 5.

"It was completely disregarded, nothing ever happened," Ms Lim said.

Autistic boy in Sydney’s west is attacked by a group of thugs

By bobb |

AN AUTISTIC teen victim of a savage assault at a Sydney shopping mall has a simple, but shocking, answer when asked why he was targeted by the thugs.

SHOCKING video has emerged of a young autistic boy being savagely bashed by a gang of youths at a busy Sydney mall.

The 15-year-old boy is seen on the video standing with his head down as he types a message on his mobile phone. One of the youths shoulders him and causes him to stumble, while others in the gang stand around and watch. And film the encounter.

Insight into uni study for autistic

By bobb |

A free lecture discussing university for those on the autism spectrum is taking place next week.

The University of Wollongong Bega campus is hosting a presentation by Kimberley McMahon-Coeman and Kim Draisma, who both have extensive experience working with university students on the spectrum. 

They will offer insight into the challenges of autism in the classroom, how students can manage the transition to uni and establish successful study patterns.

Disabled victims of abuse in school ‘failed’ by education department

By bobb |
Kelly Fellows with daughter Maddison (age 6 years)

NSW schools are failing to report horrific cases of abuse against disabled and special needs students, as a parliamentary inquiry yesterday heard the state had “failed these kids”.

One advocacy group has called for a royal commission following the revelation of several shocking alleged incidents­ in which children were tied to chairs by their ankles, locked in cupboards or beaten with sticks by their teachers.

NSW schools using restraints and isolation against guidelines, Ombudsman finds

By bobb |
students at their lockers

Pallavi Singhal ​

A primary school student with autism was restrained by teachers and locked in a time-out room for more than an hour, during which time the student wrapped an electrical cord around their neck, a NSW Ombudsman's report reveals.

A teacher standing outside the room ignored the student during the isolation, despite instructions that the student was not to be restrained and was to be checked on after three minutes if placed in time-out.

Family seeks damages amid allegations boy with autism locked in 'cage' at Sydney school

By bobb |

The operator of a private school for children with autism is being sued by a Newcastle family that alleges their autistic son was locked by teachers in a structure akin to a cage.

The family alleges the boy was put in a lockable fenced structure he called a cage at an Aspect-run school in Sydney in 2012.

The family has since relocated to the Hunter Valley and is seeking damages from Aspect in the Newcastle District Court.

The family has alleged negligence, assault and wrongful imprisonment.

'You won't get anywhere in life': autistic girl proves teachers wrong

By bobb |
young woman leaning on a green column
AGRON LATIFI

Kayla Sterchow had lots of reasons to celebrate on Thursday when she turned 20.

But she couldn’t get her “traumatic’’  high school years in the Illawarra out of her head.

Bullied by other students and kicked out of seven schools, the University of Canberra student was constantly told by teachers she “wouldn’t get anywhere in life’’ because of her autism.

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