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Lack of training leads to abuse, Bendigo autism advocate says

By bobbux |

An inquiry into services for people with autism spectrum disorder is calling for submissions from the public, and Bendigo autism advocate Rebecca Kelly has outlined her concerns.

Our kids grow up into adults and we're going to really need to get that support happening.

Rebecca Kelly, autism advocate

Ms Kelly's eight-year-old daughter was diagnosed with autism four years ago and her son, who is now six, was diagnosed a year later.

Dozens of NSW teachers investigated for alleged assaults against students with autism, data shows

By bobb |

Dozens of New South Wales teachers have been investigated for alleged assaults against students with autism, including children being sat on and placed in headlocks, Education Department data shows.

The ABC has obtained figures of alleged child protection incidents involving students with autism spectrum disorder at NSW public schools.

Of the 37 alleged incidents, management action was taken in eight cases, after the conduct was shown to have occurred.

School refusal: Anxious kids miss months, even years of class

By bobb |

Matthew Wearing had nightmares about going to school.

He remembers being severely bullied, and being dismissed and laughed at, as though he were a "second class student".

Eventually, at 15, he decided that he wouldn't go back. 

He missed nearly three months of year nine. 

"I did develop a fear," he says. "A fear of not being accepted. I felt it all day and all night."

Disability SA forced to make $60 million in cuts as autism cases 'skyrocket'

By bobb |

Editor: Autism cases did not "skyrocket" in SA, the number of cases is completely inline with predictions. The SA Government and the NDIA ignored advice that the estimates they adopted were way too low. 

Disability South Australia is being forced to find up to $60 million in cuts, a state parliamentary committee has heard, with increased support only being offered for "must do" cases.

Huntfield Heights AEIOU Foundation Centre under investigation over claims of assault involving two children

By bobb |

THE state’s largest specialist childcare facility for autistic children is at the centre of a police and Child Protection Service investigation into allegations of assault involving two young children.

Two female staff at the Huntfield Heights AEIOU Foundation Centre are on extended leave while the investigations are under way.

The police probe is being conducted by the family violence investigation branch in the South Coast CIB, and detectives are working closely with Flinders Medical Centre’s Child Protection Service.

Labor to fund more advocacy for people with disability

By bobb |

03 December , 2015

A Shorten Labor Government will provide an additional $2 million a year to peak disability advocacy organisations to ensure people with disability have a powerful voice in the debates and decisions that affect their lives.

On International Day of People with Disability, Labor affirms its support for advocacy services and recognises their crucial role in the successful rollout of the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

School cage disgrace: Eight staff reprimanded but not a single person sacked for building a steel enclosure to lock up an autistic boy

By bobb |
  • A cage was constructed at a Canberra school to restrain an autistic student
  • A photo of the ten-year-old boy inside the cage was pinned in a classroom 
  • The autistic student was put inside the steel cage once in March, 2015 
  • The principal who authorised the cage still works for the ACT Directorate
  • Eight other staff  were 'reprimanded' or offered counselling, none fired