Bernard Lane

Queensland has passed Australia’s first law against “conversion therapy”, gazumping Victoria’s Dan Andrews in complying with a key campaign demand of the LGBTQ lobby.

The New South Wales-based founder of a charity for autistic children and their families is celebrating her own autism diagnosis at age 48.

By Claudia Tanner

Pathological demand avoidance (PDA) – characterised by avoiding everyday demands and expectations to an extreme extent – is increasingly, but not universally, accepted as a profile that is seen in some autistic people.

When Francesca Manca’s son Simon was diagnosed with autism, she felt some relief that this would mean she would get the right support for him.

The mother of a disabled boy who has severe behavioural issues is pushing for better skills and standards after settling a discrimination lawsuit with a Victorian support provider.

Catherine Blundy’s discrimination test case against The Lakes Christian College has settled, with the school agreeing to measures to better support autistic children.

In reaching settlement, Catherine, her mum Hannah, and the College have made the following statement:

Hannah Blundy and The Lakes Christian College have agreed to resolve Catherine Blundy’s claim against the College currently before the Federal Circuit Court.

Agron Latifi

Traditionally, most research about autism is conducted by people who are not themselves on the autism spectrum.

However Dr Amanda Webster, from the School of Education, and her fellow University of Wollongong researchers, are involving autistic people in all aspects of the research process, from deciding research questions, to data collection and analysis, to translating the findings into real-world outcomes.