Sophie's bruises appeared after a day at school but the Victorian education department won't say why

By bobb |

Farrah Tomazin & Tammy Mills

It was the marks on Sophie’s* arms that started it. The moment she came home from school with those bruises, her parents demanded answers.

What happened? How did the bruises get there? Had a form of physical restraint been used by her teachers?

As a child with autism, Sophie has tendency to act out – regularly and severely. How the school responds to her when she does is the great unknown.

NDIS Autism Advisory Group sets priorities

By bobb |

Minister's Media Release

The new Autism Advisory Group (AAG) will provide a strong voice on behalf of people with autism who are participating in the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

Minister for Social Services Dan Tehan said the Australian Government established the AAG because of its commitment to a collaborative, fact-based approach to autism and the rollout of the NDIS.

The AAT Slams the NDIA's "unsatisfactory state of affairs"

By bobb |

Sara Gingold

It is not commonplace for public servants or members of the judiciary to publically implore or reprimand government ministers or other public bodies. These are people who take the separation of powers very seriously. This makes the decision of the Deputy President of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT), Gary Humphries to attack the NDIA and urge ministerial intervention even more extraordinary.

NSW: Inquiry into the implementation of the NDIS and the provision of disability services in New South Wales

By bobb |

MEDIA RELEASE

An Upper House inquiry has been established to examine the provision of disability services in New South Wales.

The Hon. Greg Donnelly MLC, Chair of the Committee said: 'The disability sector has undergone significant reform in recent years. This inquiry is an opportunity to examine a range of issues effecting the sector. A key area of interest is the implementation of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)'.

When carers kill

By bobb |

Note: we apologise that technical issues mean we cannot replicate this story properly on our website. The full story, showing many victims, is available from the source site: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-06-23/when-carers-kill/9894514

Sarah Dingle

One person with disabilities is killed by their carer almost every three months in Australia, but these acts of domestic violence are often excused by the media and judiciary. The focus is too often on the killer. Here, we recognise the victims.

World's largest autism grant will transform research landscape

By bobb |

The largest research grant ever given for neurodevelopmental conditions has been awarded by the Innovative Medicines Initiative to an international consortium academically led by the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) at King's College London.

The €115 million grant, titled Autism Innovative Medicine Studies-2-Trials (AIMS-2-Trials), will increase our understanding of autism and help develop new therapies to improve health outcomes and quality of life for autistic people.