NSW schools using restraints and isolation against guidelines, Ombudsman finds

By bobb |

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.

Probe ordered into claim primary school held student with autism in small plywood room

By bobb |

Transcript

LAUREN DAY: For Lachlan Murrell's family, every day is a battle. 



EMILY DIVE: Do you want us to wait inside while you head outside? 



LACHLAN MURRELL: Go away. 



LAUREN DAY: But the daily struggles are nothing compared to the bigger fight on his mum's hands. 



How would you describe your experience of trying to get him an education? 



Hanson's view of autistic children is simply Australian law

By bobb |

The disability sector in Australia strongly condemns Senator Hanson for her recently expressed view that schools should "get rid" of autistic students from mainstream classrooms; see Pauline Hanson says autistic kids should be removed from mainstream classes and Senator Hanson needs to go back to school.

However, people should understand this issue better.

Senator Hanson needs to go back to school

By convenor |

Media Release

The Australian Federation of Disability Organisations today condemned comments by Senator Pauline Hanson who suggested that children with disability should be removed from mainstream schools.



Senator Hanson told the Senate this morning that children with disability did not belong in mainstream classrooms because they were disruptive and, as a result, teachers spent too much time with them at the expense of other students.



Pauline Hanson says autistic kids should be removed from mainstream classes

By bobb |

Matthew Killoran

ONE Nation leader Senator Pauline Hanson announced this morning that her party will back the Federal Government’s $18.6 billion school funding package.

But she also said “we need to get rid of” autistic children from mainstream classrooms, arguing teachers had to spend too much time with them at the expense of other students’ education.

She said parents and teachers had raised the issue with her of children with disabilities or autism in mainstream classrooms.

Tasmania: Northside beds closed, autistic teen 'distressed' in adult unit

By bobb |

Carly Dolan

The parents of a severely autistic teenager, who is being housed in Launceston General Hospital’s acute mental health unit, say the experience has been “excruciating” for the family and staff.

The 15-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has been at Northside Mental Health Clinic for nearly 12 weeks, which has resulted in beds being closed to other patients. He is due to be moved into accommodation at Latrobe next week.

Autistic teen found gagged and tied up in toilet block at Croydon Special Developmental School

By convenor |

Suzan Delibasic

An autistic teenager was gagged and tied up with his pants down in a Croydon school toilet block before being discovered by a teacher.

The boy’s distraught grandmother said the 18-year-old, who attends Croydon Special Developmental School and has non-verbal autism, was found with another student in a toilet cubicle about 9.15am on Monday, May 29. He was gagged and had his wrists bound with crepe bandages.