Eighteen people linked to a special needs school in Sydney’s north — including seven students — have tested positive for COVID-19.

Key points:

• Parents were first notified a staff member tested positive on August 5
• Seven students, three staff and eight family members are now positive
• NSW Health says it does not disclose details on venues of concern unless there is a public health risk

The Giant Steps school in Gladesville caters for students with severe autism and has closed its doors after becoming aware of a positive case last week.

SAFEWORK NSW v SNAP PROGRAMS LIMITED AND STATE OF NEW SOUTH
WALES (DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITIES AND JUSTICE) [2021] NSWDC
259

District Court of New South Wales, Scotting DCJ, 18 June 2021

Sentence hearing for a WPHS breach involving the death of a child in care

Key Words: Workplace Health and Safety, New South Wales, Penalty, Death Of Child In Care, Duty of Care

John Harris

Progress has been made, but the release of the profound film, The Reason I Jump, shows how much further we need to go

Sally Eeles

Queensland researchers say anxiety — not autism — is preventing many children on the spectrum from flourishing at school.

Key points:

• Anxiety predicts quality of life more than a child's level of autism, researchers say
• Researchers are hoping to reduce this anxiety by giving parents the skills to give to their children
• Griffith University is seeking 30 families with an autistic child due to start prep in 2022 for the program

update - final report is available - see below

More than 690,000 Australians live with complex and enduring mental illness such as psychotic illnesses, personality disorders, bipolar disorder or severe and persistent depression and anxiety. People living with complex and enduring mental illness can experience a range of poorer health and social outcomes which can be driven by stigma and discrimination from the broader community.

Dan Jervis-Bardy

A Liberal senator has blasted the government's proposed new assessment system for National Disability Insurance Scheme participants as "dehumanising" and "offensive" and said she wouldn't want her autistic child to be subjected to one.

NSW Senator Hollie Hughes has not ruled out voting against her government when legislation to mandate independent assessments is brought to parliament, declaring she's a "mum first, a senator second".

Ethan James

The mother of a man living at a NSW residential care home for people with a disability has described the shock of listening to evidence about his alleged abuse.

Sophia was sitting in court in October when she heard details for the first time about the alleged treatment of her son Carl, who is now 24.

"Hearing what the witnesses were saying was probably the hardest thing I could have done," she told the disability royal commission on Tuesday.

Kaitlyn Smith

The teen used to undertake an hours-long commute before the sun had even risen in order to complete his TAFE studies

IPSWICH teen Anthony Taikato has never been one to back down from a challenge.

Diagnosed with a learning difficulty and autism at a young age, the 19-year-old has since gone on to achieve a growing list of both personal and professional milestones.

He recently marked 18 months since joining the ranks at Garstone Design Furniture in Carole Park after taking up work as a labourer on the production line.