by David Roy

A quarter of children with a disability denied a place in their local school; Students are being bullied by teachers because of their disability; There are negative attitudes to children with a disability by schools, principals and some staff; No allowance made in learning for children with a disability. No training for teachers; Funding and schools not accountable.

ONE of the biggest milestones in a child’s life — starting school — has turned sour for little Jacob Hall.

The five-year-old Preppie, who has autism, was suspended by Bray Park State School in his second term for “conduct that adversely affects, or is likely to adversely affect, the good order and management of the school”.

His mum Sarah said she could not believe the school’s action.

She has since removed Jacob and enrolled him at Lawnton State School, where he started on May 3. She said he was settling in well and enjoying his time at Lawnton.

BORDER mums are taking the disability service system to task in a heartfelt plea to Canberra.

Wodonga disability activist and mum to a son with autism, Jen Tait, and Gateway Health’s Community Inclusion and Population Health manager and mum to a son with a disability, Toni Reeves, have put their concerns on the public record.

Ms Tait wrote a moving letter to the member for Indi, Cathy McGowan, seeking a fair go for people living with disabilities on the Border. 

A couple of years ago, school was not going so well for Jack. He was close to failing several subjects, even at risk of dropping out. He was bright, the teachers were relaxed and friendly, but that was the problem – they were too relaxed.

Now in year 9 and doing well, Jack, 15, says he has a very particular learning style, getting teachers who match that has turned everything around.

Note: there is commentary on this article at the end.

Angela Shanahan

It seems odd in this belt-tightening age that the National Disability Insurance Scheme, one area of almost certain future overblown expenditure, seems to be isolated from scrutiny.

A report into autism diagnosis in Australia has found discrepancies in how children are assessed for the condition and calls for a national standard to ensure early intervention.

The study was produced through the Cooperative Research Centre for Living with Autism.

The senior author of the report, Professor Andrew Whitehouse from Perth's Telethon Kids Institute, said the study highlighted serious problems.

Children who do not meet the ­criteria for autism are being diagnosed with the condition, as desperate parents take their kids to private practitioners in a bid to gain a label, according to frank ­admissions from health professionals.

By Christina A. Samuels

After years of steady decline, the nationwide count of school-age students covered under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act has shown an upswing since the 2011-12 school year based on the most recently available federal data, driven by rapid growth in such disability categories as autism.

The count of students ages 6-21 with disabilities fell to a low of 5.67 million in fall 2011, but had risen to 5.83 million by fall 2014, the most recent year for which statistics are available.

Arlene Harris reports on the possible misdiagnosis of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD)

Editor: the word "threat" only appears in the headline — what is that about? An imminent report shows that just 2% of Australian clinicians may have ever over-diagnosed (knowingly misdiagnosed) autism on at least one occasion.

IT IS estimated globally that every year up to six children out of every 1,000 will be diagnosed as having autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Undoubtedly these figures seem to be on the rise but expert Professor Tony Attwood says some children are possibly being misdiagnosed.