NDIS data show the rapid decline in Australian autism diagnoses

By convenor |

The proportion of young children (age 0 to 6 years) diagnosed with autism in the NDIS has declined significantly since the full roll-out of the NDIS. The following chart shows the proportion of children in the NDIS with different types of "primary disability" according to data published by the NDIS on their website. 

Gold Coast hospital left Autistic patient to ‘starve to death’

By bobb |

Joshua Haigh

A heartbroken mother is desperate for answers after her austisic son was allowed to starve to death in hospital.

A mother is calling for an investigation into the failings at a major Queensland hospital after her autistic son died from starvation while under the care of its doctors.

Stewart Kelly, 45, died at Robina Hospital in August last year from starvation and dehydration during a 33-day admission.

Autistic Australians struggle to access routine healthcare. Medical workers' lack of training could be to blame

By bobb |

Sam Nichols

Chantel Le Cross remembers the first time they felt heard in an emergency room.

It was only two months ago.

The 33-year-old, who is selective non-verbal autistic, was rushed to hospital in September in intense pain. An endometrial cyst wrapped around one of their fallopian tubes had ruptured.

Because Chantel was screaming in agony, they say workers were able to understand their suffering. But that level of attention isn't typical.

Mainstream Australian classrooms 'not prepared' to educate the expanding cohort of autistic students

By bobb |

By Ashleigh Keating

Connor Winfield was a gifted student, so no one could understand why he found school so difficult.

Key points:

  • Autism is the fastest growing disability in Australia, having increased by 25 per cent between 2015 and 2019
  • Mainstream teachers often lack the training and resources to cater for the needs of neurodiverse students
  • Experts and advocates are calling for autism-specific training to be mandatory for teachers

"I would bet that most of my teachers did not understand what autism was," he said.

Almost two years after a referral, Mariam’s son is finally getting the help he needs

By bobb |

By Amber Schultz

It took Mariam Mukhtar nearly two years to have her teenage son Raamiz assessed for autism following a paediatric referral, and she fears the delay in getting him support has cost him his high school experience.

“Having support at the right time … that would have been a life-changing experience,” she said.