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Disability minister horrified, families sickened by 'coffin-like' box

By bobb |

Victoria's disability minister said he was horrified by revelations of a "desensitising box" at a Melbourne autism centre and has expanded a probe into one of the country's leading disability service providers.

Minister Martin Foley on Monday instructed the Department of Human Services to urgently inquire about the box as part of an examination of Aspect's Heatherton site, vowing to get to the bottom of the matter.

Wooden box built to 'calm' autistic students at day centre

By bobb |

Australia's largest autism service provider is under investigation after staff built a large wooden box to lock up distressed clients at a Melbourne day centre.

Disturbing images show the box was fitted with a metal lock and kept inside a classroom at Autism Spectrum Australia's (Aspect) site at Heatherton, in the city's south-east.

Massive row over NDIS autism eligibility gobbledygook

By bobb |

Media Release

A major dispute broke out between two autism advocates: they both described the NDIA's eligibility criteria for autistic people as “gobbledygook”, but they are at odds over who said it first.

Bob Buckley, Convenor of Autism Aspergers Advocacy Australia, claims Ms Louise Davies, Deputy Chief Executive Officer from Autism SA, was clearly first to call the NDIA's criteria “gobbledygook”. But Ms Davies says Mr Buckley was first (see http://a4.org.au/node/794).

Preliminary Results of the Australian Autism Educational Needs Analysis

By bobb |

Researchers are currently analysing data from the Autism CRC Australian Autism Educational Needs Analysis. Nationwide 1,468 respondents participated in the survey from every state of Australia and included: 

·         248 educators,

·         179 specialists,

·         107 students with autism (11 -18 years), and

·         934 parents

Parents paint 'worst case scenario' to get support for disabled kids

By bobb |

Thomas and his little sister Sarah have the same disability. They were both diagnosed with autism when they were four and attended the same early intervention service. But when it came time to start school, only Thomas qualified for disability funding. Sarah did not meet the criteria because she pronounced words too clearly, despite struggling to understand them.

Parents Paul Coleman and Annie Walton spent a year "jumping through hoops" to get an integration aid for Thomas, who is now 9.

Minister calls for probe into claims autistic student left alone in classroom

By bobb |

The Tasmanian Government will investigate claims an autistic child was left isolated and unsupervised in a classroom for days on end.

Seika Purdy said she found her autistic daughter Jordan asleep, alone and unsupervised at a primary school in Tasmania's south last week.

Ms Purdy claimed it had been happening for about two weeks, after an incident of alleged bullying involving another student.

Advisory panel helping to improve support for Tasmanians living with autism spectrum disorder

By bobb |

Media Release

Jacquie Petrusma, Minister for Human Services 

22 September 2015

Tasmanian living with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) should have every opportunity to reach their goals and to achieve their full potential.

The Hodgman Liberal Government is committed to providing improved support for Tasmanians living with ASD, and that’s why last year we established the Autism Advisory Panel.

School accused of locking kids in cages

By bobb |

CHILDREN with disabilities are allegedly being locked in cages without windows and other enclosures described as “cattle pens” while at school.

Bendigo Special Developmental School is being investigated by the Victorian education department after incidents were reported by staff members and parents.

Since October last year, disability advocate Julie Phillips has copped a number of complaints about children being treated like animals.

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