Parents demand answers after autistic child was locked in school bike yard

By bobb |
ACT Government. Education logo and text

Sarah Lansdown

Parents of child with autism who was locked in a school bike yard by a staff member are demanding to know why they were not informed until almost three months later, despite it being serious enough to warrant three separate investigations.

The parents were told that on May 7 their son, who is Indigenous, climbed into an unlocked outdoor bike storage facility at his ACT public primary school.

ABS SDAC 2022 data release - autism diagnosis rates continue to rise

By bobb |
Australian Bureau of Statistics logo

The Australian Bureau of Statistics released some analysis of data collected in 2022 for their Survey of Disability Ageing and Carers (SDAC) - see https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/health/disability/disability-ageing-and-carers-australia-summary-findings/2022 

There is a brief section on autistic Australians. It says simply: 

Autism and disability

In 2022:

NDIS reforms boosted by greater involvement in co-design with disability representative organisations

By convenor |

The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) has strengthened investment in co-designing key reforms to the NDIS, through a funding boost for Disability Representative and Carer Organisations (DRCOs).

The 27 organisations, who will receive up to $10.7 million of funding, collectively represent thousands of people with disability and their families.

A4's response to the draft National Autism Strategy - abundant opportunity for improvement

By convenor |
cover of A4's "silver buckshot" response document

The Department of Social Security is charged with managing the development of Australia's National Autism  Strategy.

The consultation process for the first draft strategy has closed -  see https://engage.dss.gov.au/developing-the-national-autism-strategy/

A4's "silver buckshot" response to the draft National Autism Strategy prepared by DSS staff is available from the links below.

Neuroaffirming care values the strengths and differences of autistic people, those with ADHD or other profiles. Here’s how

By bobb |
man and woman sitting at table in garden and happily conversing

We’ve come a long way in terms of understanding that everyone thinks, interacts and experiences the world differently. In the past, autistic people, people with attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD) and other profiles were categorised by what they struggled with or couldn’t do.

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