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Former Yooralla manager jailed for sexual abuse of autistic woman

By bobb |

A manager at Victoria's biggest disability services provider Yooralla has been jailed for four years after he was caught by a hidden camera preying on a vulnerable cognitively impaired woman in his office.

County Court judge Paul Grant said Timothy Hampson, 52, had abused his position of trust in a shocking way.

"You put your own desires above your obligation to respect your victim's rights, her autonomy and personal dignity," the judge said on Monday when jailing Hampson for four years with a non-parole period of two-and-a-half years.

NDIS work for children on hold in South Australia

By bobb |

The National Disability Insurance Scheme has stopped ­creating support plans for some children in South Australia as a botched funding strategy for the state, which underestimated the number of participants by half, begins to bite.

The trial was originally funded for 5085 places despite evidence that about 10,000 children would be eligible. That figure has almost been reached without any extra money flowing from either the South Australian government or the federal government.

Almost 4700 plans have so far been made.

Autistic kids ‘tied to chairs’ at school, Senate inquiry told

By bobb |

Autistic children are being locked in cages, tied to chairs and shut in storerooms at school, parents have told a Senate inquiry.

One mother has alleged that a teacher at a special school threatened to cut off her son’s fingers, leaving him afraid of going to class.

Children with Disability Australia has told the Senate inquiry into students with disabilities that one unnamed school took no action­ when a boy kicked and knocked over a Year 2 girl with a disability.

Employment boost for people with autism in Brisbane

By bobb |

The Department of Human Services, together with HP Australia and Specialist People Foundation have expanded their acclaimed Dandelion program to Brisbane, giving young people with Autism Spectrum Disorder access to a career in the IT sector.

Minister for Human Services Senator the Hon Marise Payne said 13 people have this week commenced a three year traineeship with the department where they will work as software test analysts.

Widespread bullying and abuse of children with disability at school: report to federal senate inquiry

By bobb |

Like most parents, Alex Baltins​ wanted to find the best school for her son before he started kindergarten and made inquiries with a couple of schools near her home in Sydney's south.

"They sounded quite keen until I said my child has autism. Then it was like, 'Sorry, no'," she said. "I felt as if no one wanted my son."

A quality education experience for a student with disability is still likened to winning the lottery. 

Children with Disability Australia

NDIS Board must be independent and protect the interests of people with disability and their families

By bobb |

Statement by AFDO, people with disability and family organisations

Today the Federal Government has placed an advertisement in newspapers calling for nominations for the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) Board.

There is currently no more important government appointed role for people with disability and their families than the NDIA Board.

The NDIA Board is responsible for safeguarding the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and ensuring that it is delivered on time and on budget.