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DSM-5 revision tweaks autism entry for clarity

By bobb |
DSM-5 cover with graph superimposed

Peter Hess

Two changes to the criteria for diagnosing autism are slated for release tomorrow in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-5-TR), published by the American Psychiatric Association. The small changes add clarity and nuance to how the reference text defines autism, but they are unlikely to change diagnostic practice, experts say.

Carwoola Southport: NDIS clients face losing homes after complaint to council

By bobb |

Keith Woods

High needs NDIS clients risk losing their homes after a complaint to council amid claims they have been subject of antagonism from a minority of neighbours.

A GROUP of high-needs people are at risk of being thrown out of their homes after the company leasing units on their behalf was issued a show-cause notice by council.

Pleas for NSW flood survivors with disability to be prioritised for urgent housing, care

By bobb |
mother holding her autistic son

ToyNera Macgregor and her 16-year-old son Annan are homeless after floods swamped their Lismore rental.

Key points:

  • Governments are being urged to prioritise the needs of flood survivors with disability
  • Service providers say evacuation centres are often not accessible
  • The Northern Rivers was already experiencing a housing crisis before the floods

Melbourne autism researchers develop world's most effective early screening tool for children

By bobb |

A screening tool developed by Australian researchers has been found to be the world's most effective tool for diagnosing children who are on the autism spectrum.

Key points:

  • A study of more than 13,500 Victorian children found the La Trobe University tool to be the most effective in the world
  • The tool teaches health workers to use a checklist to identify key behaviours when children come in for routine appointments
  • Children as young as 11 months old have been identified as having a higher likelihood of autism

Toowoomba mum of son with autism, ADHD slams National Disability Insurance Scheme over funding troubles

By bobb |
portrait of Ms Mather

Tom Gillespie

Robyn Vahua dedicates a huge chunk of her week just trying to prove to the NDIS that her son has a disability and needs funding. Now she’s worried he won’t be able to keep living with her.

Robyn Vahua might not be able to keep her 11-year-old son Aristotle at home, because the National Disability Insurance Scheme doesn’t believe he deserves funding for his complex conditions.

Disability advocates push to scrap the word ‘pension’ from government payment

By bobb |
portrait of Ms Mather

Brooke Grebert-Craig

Disability advocates are pushing to change a word on the title of a Centrelink payment, claiming it’s condescending and demeaning to young people.

 

Disability advocates are pushing to change a word on the title of a government payment, claiming it’s discriminatory to young people.

Victoria University PhD student Jerusha Mather wants the term ‘pension’ changed on the name of Centrelink’s Disability Support Pension.

Greater training needed for health professionals caring for people with cognitive disability

By convenor |
Commonwealth logo - words: Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability

The Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability has released a Commissioner’s report on Public Hearing 10: Education and training of health professionals in relation to people with cognitive disability.

The report makes 9 findings and 12 recommendations in relation to the education and training of health professionals across Australia including nurses, dentists, pharmacists, psychologists and speech pathologists.

Respite care inspired by family experience

By bobb |

Alesha Capone

Marina Ivelja knows the difficulties of looking for respite care for someone you love.

Mrs Ivelja is 16 years older than her older brother, who has autism, an intellectual disability, complex partial seizures and severe self-harming behaviours.

While growing up, she witnessed his diagnosis, integration with special schools and all the different services her family dealt with.

Mrs Ivelja said that this motivated her to establish her respite service, Beyond Disability Services, which opened in Bacchus Marsh during November 2021.

New job led to ‘broken life’ under disability scheme spruiked as success story

By bobb |
hands makinbg coffee at a coffee machine

Luke Henriques-Gomes

Woman tells inquiry how her experiences at ‘coffee school’ in $1bn-a-year federal program damaged her health and left her heartbroken

On her first day in an exciting new job, Mzia walked in to find a small “Breville-style” coffee machine placed on a computer desk in the reception.

Next to the machine was a container of long-life milk.

Mzia looked at the small Breville machine and told a senior manager: “This is not a commercial machine.”

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