For the first 14 and a half years of Gordy's life, Evan and Dara Baylinson had no reason to believe their son could comprehend anything they said: He had never spoken, and he couldn't really emote. They worried aloud about his future, not filtering what they said, because they didn't think he understood.

But Gordy was absorbing everything.

"My brain, which is much like yours, knows what it wants and how to make that clear," he wrote in a letter he sent to a police officer. "My body, which is much like a drunken, almost six-foot toddler, resists."

As the population of people diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder keeps growing, so does the number of people with that diagnosis who aren't finding employment.

Though many young adults on the spectrum are considered high functioning, recent research shows 40 percent don't find work — a higher jobless rate than people with other developmental disabilities experience.

by  KATY HALL

Gold Logie winner Waleed Aly has opened up about his son Zayd’s autism, describing the nine-year-old as a “lovely little man”.

Paula Goodyer

"Boy recovers from autism after going gluten free."

"Gluten- free casein-free diet no remedy for autism."

Welcome to the conflicted world of diet and autism where opinion over the benefits of removing gluten (the protein in wheat, rye and barley) and casein (the protein in milk) from the diet is divided. Depending on which website you click on, the gluten-free, casein-free diet is either saviour or undiluted snake oil.

by David Roy

A quarter of children with a disability denied a place in their local school; Students are being bullied by teachers because of their disability; There are negative attitudes to children with a disability by schools, principals and some staff; No allowance made in learning for children with a disability. No training for teachers; Funding and schools not accountable.

ONE of the biggest milestones in a child’s life — starting school — has turned sour for little Jacob Hall.

The five-year-old Preppie, who has autism, was suspended by Bray Park State School in his second term for “conduct that adversely affects, or is likely to adversely affect, the good order and management of the school”.

His mum Sarah said she could not believe the school’s action.

She has since removed Jacob and enrolled him at Lawnton State School, where he started on May 3. She said he was settling in well and enjoying his time at Lawnton.

BORDER mums are taking the disability service system to task in a heartfelt plea to Canberra.

Wodonga disability activist and mum to a son with autism, Jen Tait, and Gateway Health’s Community Inclusion and Population Health manager and mum to a son with a disability, Toni Reeves, have put their concerns on the public record.

Ms Tait wrote a moving letter to the member for Indi, Cathy McGowan, seeking a fair go for people living with disabilities on the Border. 

A couple of years ago, school was not going so well for Jack. He was close to failing several subjects, even at risk of dropping out. He was bright, the teachers were relaxed and friendly, but that was the problem – they were too relaxed.

Now in year 9 and doing well, Jack, 15, says he has a very particular learning style, getting teachers who match that has turned everything around.

Note: there is commentary on this article at the end.

Angela Shanahan

It seems odd in this belt-tightening age that the National Disability Insurance Scheme, one area of almost certain future overblown expenditure, seems to be isolated from scrutiny.