Show news for a region of your choice (mostly Austraian news).

Autism support groups turn up pressure on ACT Education Minister Joy Burch over 'boy in a cage'

By bobb |

By Lisa Mosley

Another group has passed a no confidence motion against the ACT Education Minister Joy Burch, this time over her handling of the boy in the cage incident.

Members of the advocacy group Speaking out for Autism Spectrum Disorder expressed no confidence in the minister, angry about claims it had been an isolated case.

ACT Autism group passes no confidence motion against Joy Burch

By bobb |

Emma Kelly and Henry Belot

A disability support group in the ACT has passed a no confidence motion against Education Minister Joy Burch over her handling of the case of an autistic boy being put in a cage in a Canberra primary school.

The Speaking Out for Autism Spectrum Disorder group has expressed its anger at Ms Burch's treatment of the case as an "isolated incident".

Allegations of students in cage-like structures triggers investigation

By bobb |

Henrietta Cook, Education Reporter

Children were allegedly locked in cage-like structures at a Victorian special school and restrained with straps at another, triggering separate investigations by the Education Department.

A consultancy hired by the department is investigating practices at Bendigo Special Developmental School to determine whether there is "a risk of danger or risk of inappropriate treatment" for students.

Autism group has “no confidence” in ACT Government

By bobb |

Media Release

Members of Speaking Out for Autism Spectrum Disorder (SOfASD) passed a no confidence motion (see http://sofasd.org.au/d7/node/105) in

  • Ms Joy Burch, Minister for Education and Minister for Disability; and

  • the ACT Government.

SOfASD advocates for autistic people in the ACT, including students diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

Allegations of students in cage-like structures triggers investigation

By bobb |

Children were allegedly locked in cage-like structures at a Victorian special school and restrained with straps at another, triggering separate investigations by the Education Department.

A consultancy hired by the department is investigating practices at Bendigo Special Developmental School to determine whether there is "a risk of danger or risk of inappropriate treatment" for students.

A separate probe by an independent education consultant is examining complaints raised by parents at Monash Special Developmental School.

SA autistic children missing out on funding after NDIS warnings ‘ignored’, says Autism SA

By bobb |

THE state’s peak autism body says it warned the Government that up to 11,000 local children would need support from the national disability insurance scheme — about double the 5000 planned for — but was ignored.

Now the state and federal governments remain in a stalemate over who is going to pay for the thousands of extra children eligible for disability services and equipment.

In the meantime, families are facing growing delays to be assessed and approved for funding.

Former Yooralla manager jailed for sexual abuse of autistic woman

By bobb |

A manager at Victoria's biggest disability services provider Yooralla has been jailed for four years after he was caught by a hidden camera preying on a vulnerable cognitively impaired woman in his office.

County Court judge Paul Grant said Timothy Hampson, 52, had abused his position of trust in a shocking way.

"You put your own desires above your obligation to respect your victim's rights, her autonomy and personal dignity," the judge said on Monday when jailing Hampson for four years with a non-parole period of two-and-a-half years.

NDIS work for children on hold in South Australia

By bobb |

The National Disability Insurance Scheme has stopped ­creating support plans for some children in South Australia as a botched funding strategy for the state, which underestimated the number of participants by half, begins to bite.

The trial was originally funded for 5085 places despite evidence that about 10,000 children would be eligible. That figure has almost been reached without any extra money flowing from either the South Australian government or the federal government.

Almost 4700 plans have so far been made.

Autistic kids ‘tied to chairs’ at school, Senate inquiry told

By bobb |

Autistic children are being locked in cages, tied to chairs and shut in storerooms at school, parents have told a Senate inquiry.

One mother has alleged that a teacher at a special school threatened to cut off her son’s fingers, leaving him afraid of going to class.

Children with Disability Australia has told the Senate inquiry into students with disabilities that one unnamed school took no action­ when a boy kicked and knocked over a Year 2 girl with a disability.