Autism news
Greensborough man with autism shackled in hospital after parents say pleas ignored
James Pascoe shackled to a bed after his parents? pleas for more appropriate care were ignored.
A MAN with severe autism has been shackled to a hospital bed after his parents say repeated pleas for more appropriate care were ignored by authorities
destruction of a family
Minister Mary Wooldridge - Missing in Action
24 November 2014
This is our beautiful son, James.
What is wrong with him you may ask? Nothing - unless the Department of Human Services can be classified as a disease.
Our son has Autism Spectrum Disorder. Despite our attempts to protect him throughout his life, the authorities we entrusted with his care have caused him trauma throughout his life. From being locked in an empty courtyard at Bulleen Heights School, to being shackled in a hospital, James has rarely had the benefit of the expertise our health system, disability system and school system claim.
In September 2013, from sheer exhaustion due to the lack of support from DHS, we asked DHS to accommodate James. At the end of August 2014, still without permanent accommodation, DHS told us that at the end of the week the house he was staying at would close and he would be transferred to a house that we had already deemed unsuitable. When we objected, DHS gave us three days notice that they would be bringing James home. Three days notice of a major life change for a person with severe Autism. Three days notice for parents who both worked and had to prepare a house.
Understanding the challenges of disability care
Wendy and Henry Ponsen with their son Jonathan.
By Robert Virtue (with Diane McCracken)
For 32 years, Wendy and Henry Ponsen have been dealing with the challenges of caring for a child with a disability.
The Ponsen family of Newcastle are up-front about the difficulties in raising a child with a disability.
Wendy and Henry have been caring for their six-foot tall, 32 year-old son Jonathan for all his life.
There've been ups and downs and a myriad of challenges along the way.
NDIS funding model ‘fails autistic children’
Sarah Martin, Political Reporter
Jedd (3) with behaviour therapist Stephanie Miller at the AEIOU Foundation, Huntfield Heights Centre.Source: News Corp Australia
SEVERELY autistic children are receiving less funding in trials of the National Disability Insurance Scheme than they were under previous funding arrangements.
Early intervention service provider the AEIOU Foundation, which set up in South Australia to test its viability under trials of the new national disability funding model, says it cannot operate effectively under the scheme.
AEIOU chief executive Alan Smith said it was able to provide only five days a fortnight of intensive therapy under the NDIS, compared with 10 days where the scheme was not yet in effect, in Queensland.
Programs for the 0.1 per cent of children with autism disorder require about $45,000 for each child, but the NDIS has set a benchmark payment of $16,000.