Nick Hodge, Sheffield Hallam University

Autistic children are increasingly being suspended or expelled from school, because of “behavioural problems” official figures show. Some regions in the UK have seen a 100% increase in these types of exclusions since 2011.

A free two-day workshop for parents and carers of children with autism is scheduled for Port Pirie in February and is backed by Geoff Brock.

The Independent Frome MP said it would be a “great initiative”.

“It will provide information about autism and improve understanding of the needs of school-aged students on the autism spectrum,” he said.

“I am happy to see it being held in Port Pirie for the benefit of Mid North families.”

The workshop will be at the Royal Port Pirie Yacht Club from 9.30am to 2.30pm on February 12 and 13.

Roxanne Fitzgerald

Katherine is set to become part of the first evidence-based early intervention program for young children with Autism. 

Darwin based company, Early Start Australia, announced last week it would roll out the the Early Start Denver Model (ESDM) for children with autism, as part of its overall service delivery.

For many young people, school can be a difficult place. And for some, it can be just about impossible. Negative experiences in school can have harmful long-term effects on pupils with autism spectrum conditions.

Official figures show that children, are increasingly being suspended or expelled from school because of “behavioural problems” – many of which include children on the autism spectrum. Some regions in the UK have experienced a 100% increase in these types of exclusions since 2011.

Kay Dibben

A FEMALE psychologist who was treating an autistic sexual abuse victim ending up having a sexual relationship with him.

Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal has heard that the psychologist, then in her early 30s, knew the 18-year-old, who had a mental age of a 13 or 14-year-old, thought she looked like his former special needs teacher who had had sex with him.

Despite the teenager developing an inappropriate personal interest in her, the psychologist did not refer him to another psychologist.

Shannon Hampton

A father who whipped his “severely autistic” son over the legs with a coathanger has been fined $1200 by a magistrate who said to use a weapon on his child involved “an appalling lack of judgement”.

Szu Sheng Lo, 41, admitted assaulting the 12-year-old after he had a “meltdown” at their in Canning Vale home in December.

The Armadale Magistrate’s Court was today told Lo hit his son on the back of his legs after he “took exception” to his instructions to change his shirt after a bike ride and before he went to church with his care workers.

Kathryn Bermingham

An Adelaide man who stabbed his autistic friend and decapitated a puppy during a “sadistic” crime spree has been jailed for at least three years.

James Alexander Rech, 20, was sentenced in the District Court on Friday for charges including assaulting police, aggravated assault and ill treatment of an animal on separate occasions in 2017 and 2018.

In sentencing, Judge Sophie David said Rech had repeatedly stabbed his housemate’s eight-month-old American staffordshire terrier in retaliation for an unpaid debt.

Kristen Hovet