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Fears of more abuse to disabled children if NSW Government scrap advocacy funding

By bobb |

Brigid Glanville

Disability groups fear there could be more unreported abuse of children in schools as the New South Wales Government plans to cut funding to advocacy groups.

The plans to cut disability advocacy funding from June 2018 come after ABC's 7.30 program revealed that in the last two years there were 246 reported incidents of abuse or neglect to disabled students in NSW schools.

Government investigates 246 reports of abuse of disabled children in NSW schools

By bobb |

Andrew Taylor

A leading advocate for children with disabilities has accused the NSW government of failing to properly investigate allegations of child abuse.

David Roy, a lecturer in education at the University of Newcastle, said teachers feared losing their jobs if they report mistreatment, while abusers were protected.

ABC 7.30 Report: Mum 'gobsmacked' at school's response to autistic son being tied to restraining chair

By bobb |

Warning: this is a very distressing story

Brigid Glanville

A mother whose autistic son was strapped to a restraining chair in class was asked if she would prefer a "more aesthetically pleasing chair" when she confronted the school about the seven-year-old's treatment.

The video for this story is at http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-10-09/hundreds-of-complaints-of-abuse-o…

Key points:

  • Almost 250 reported incidents of abuse or neglect of disabled students in government schools since 2015
  • Complaints include children being strapped into restraining chairs
  • Abuse includes physical abuse and neglect

Anger after police pin young child to ground in arrest

By bobb |

Police have been filmed arresting a young boy while telling him to "shut up" in Victoria.

The video, which was uploaded to Facebook, appears to show at least three officers pinning the 12-year-old boy to the ground at Bendigo Railway Station on Friday.

With his face pressed against the concrete, the boy, who police believed at the time to have autism, is held down by the officers.

"He's got autism so he doesn't understand," one officer can be heard saying.

Champion athlete with autism completes a 4,000km run across Australia

By bobb |

Bianca Gurra

Running from one side of Australia to the other is a feat most of us would never even dream of attempting, but Dane Waites has done just that.

Mr Waites is an elite athlete who was born with autism spectrum disorder, and developed a passion for running as young child.

As is the case with many people living with autism, Mr Waites has also battled with depression throughout his life.

Two women on trial over autistic teen found murdered and buried under concrete

By bobb |

Tim Clarke

A YOUNG man with autism was targeted for murder by two woman who lured him to their home, stabbed and garotted him and then buried his body under a concrete slab and floor tiles in the back garden, a court has been told.

Jemma Victoria Lilley, 26, and Trudi Claire Lenon, 43, today went on trial for the murder of 18 year old Aaron Pajich who went missing from Rockingham in June last year.

Many traits we attribute to autism or Asperger’s were once regarded as eccentricities

By bobb |

WE all know them — the shy schoolboy who sits alone studying maths while the other kids frolic in the playground, the teen girl who simply will not stop talking despite the obvious signs of boredom from her friends, or the majestically gifted musician who fails to pass a single subject at school.

Chances are that if any of these people sought specialist help because they felt they were struggling to “be like everyone else”, they could be diagnosed with a degree of autism or Asperger’s syndrome.

Parents take children's disability discrimination claims to court

By bobb |

Disability advocates warn that schools are separating children at public and private schools because of their disability.

A Melbourne mum is suing the Victorian Department of Education and Training over allegations her autistic son was separated from his peers in the classroom and in the playground, and not provided adequate support at school.

sound available at http://www.abc.net.au/radio/programs/am…

Why the world expert on Asperger's took 30 years to notice condition in his own son

By bobb |

Melissa Davey

Prof Tony Attwood, an internationally renowned clinical psychologist, was blindsided when he realised his son Will had the syndrome

Will Attwood has been addicted to drugs for the past two decades, an affliction which has seen the 35-year-old jailed multiple times and reliant on support from his family.

His father, Prof Tony Attwood, describes him as “a hero”. It’s a feeling towards his son that has come about since his decision about five years ago to watch an old family video.