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The ACT Education Department is investigating how a child was contained in a cage-like withdrawal space in a primary school. 

Advocates are pushing for young people diagnosed with autism to receive more targeted support in their hunt for full-time work.

While youth unemployment is high across the board, more than half of Australia's young people with high functioning autism are out of work.

Marking World Autism Awareness Day on April 2, advocates are arguing more autism-specific employment services are needed.

Brisbane teenager Angus Ewin, who is autistic and dyslexic, has discovered his passion is making jewellery and hopes to soon make it a career.

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I am hugely encouraged by the growing public awareness of autism spectrum disorders and the increase of public services to many of those affected. World Autism Awareness Day not only fosters greater understanding, it empowers parents into seeking early intervention therapies and calls for the full integration of persons with autism into society. It also invites policy-makers to encourage schools to open their doors to students with autism. With adequate support, they can -- and should -- be educated in the heart of their communities.

by Tim Dodd

Each week we bring you the latest about massive open online courses (MOOCs) and online delivery, the phenomena that are revolutionising education.

People with autism and learning disabilities can die up to 20 years prematurely. So how can we help carers and health workers diagnose illness in non-verbal patients?

 An image from the Books Beyond Words series. Photograph: Lisa Kopper

PEOPLE with cognitive impairments will be better protected from sexual abuse after new offences were added to the state’s Disability Justice Plan.

The new laws start today and will better protect people with an intellectual disability or cognitive impairment.

A cognitive impairment is defined as an intellectual disability, developmental disorder (including autistic spectrum disorders), neurological disorder, dementia, mental impairment and brain injury.

Two United Nations human rights experts today called for an end to discrimination against autistic persons and a celebration of diversity. Speaking ahead of World Autism Awareness Day, the Special Rapporteurs on the rights of persons with disabilities, Catalina Devandas Aguilar, and on the right to health, Dainius Pūras, noted that about one per cent of the world’s population -some 70 million people- is estimated to be on the autism spectrum worldwide. “As part of human diversity, autistic persons should be embraced, celebrated and respected.

Clare Colley

Reporter at The Canberra Times

Bureaucratic "gobbledygook", a lack of respite and transport funding, and inexperienced planners are just some of the problems creating anxiety around the National Disability Insurance Scheme, participants have told a public hearing into the ACT roll-out.

THIS is for the mother at the supermarket who told me to “control your child” and the elderly lady who took it upon herself to tell my son “oh you are being a naughty boy”.

And to everyone else who stares at us each and every day; everyone who has rolled their eyes or made rude remarks about my son.

My 5-year-old son is not naughty, he has autism.