Revelations in a new book cast Dr. Asperger in a new and unflattering light

By John Elder Robison

What’s the rest of the story of Asperger and autism?

A Figtree man with Asperger's Syndrome will remain behind bars after reportedly indecently assaulting a woman on a train to Sydney. Peter Thompson, aged 40, allegedly hugged and kissed the woman without her permission on board a train at Waterfall on December 29. Thompson had previously been convicted of similar matters and was banned from riding on any public transport. Police say that despite those bail and bond conditions, Thompson continues to re-offend. He remains in custody until another court appearance on January 12.

Dear The Hon C Porter MP

Autism Aspergers Advocacy Australia (known as A4) received the response below from Gary Knox to our email that asked several questions.

Mr Knox's response describes material that is well known to us; particularly in relation to Impairment Table 7 - Brain Function. And it describes Centrelink's review system and the possibility of appealing a review to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal. 

A DISTRICT Court judge has been criticised for deciding a man with Down syndrome did not need a share of his father’s estate because he could not go to the pub, races or the movies.

The Court of Appeal said Brisbane Judge William Everson’s refusal to sanction an agreed settlement of $140,000 for John Abrahams denied him natural justice and a right to respect.

from http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/pro…

Most people tend to think of autism as a male disorder ... but emerging research shows that girls often have different symptoms which cause them to slip through the net—misdiagnosed or undiagnosed by clinicians. We look at why girls on the autism spectrum present differently, and whether these sex differences are biological or environmental.

From the transcript ...

Opinion by Emily Willingham

It’s a pleasure to have the abundance of choices available this year in selecting the best online places to read news and views about autism online. Some sites stand out as reliably respectful of autistic people and disability in general, and this year offered up some truly remarkable storytelling about the past, present, and future of autistic people.

I started writing online about autism more than 10 years ago. Even as the Internet and social media were emerging as a gathering place, accommodation and access point to others that autistic people had never had before, it also was a place where one could stumble at every turn onto the worst of the worst: People who brutalized children with false treatments falsely promised, news stories that infantilized, belittled and dehumanized autistic people and an incessant drumbeat of fear and paranoia about that monster, Autism.

Dear The Hon. Christian Porter MP

Your reference: MC15-015074

Autism Aspergers Advocacy Australia (known as A4) received a response from James Kemp in your Department.

I am sorry, but I cannot see how his response relates to the matters mentioned in the meeting request (see http://a4.org.au/node/1118). Please consider the meeting request that we sent to you on 5/11/2015.

regards

Bob Buckley

Convenor, Autism Aspergers Advocacy Australia

21/12/2015

• Box built to 'calm' clients at Melbourne disability centre
• Disability minister horrified, families sickened by 'coffin-like' box
• Police launch probe into Aspect autism service amid abuse claims, box scandal

Independent assessors are to examine the use of restraint at Australia's leading autism service in the aftermath of a scandal involving a large box built to lock up people with disabilities.

The Andrews government will order the independent review at Autism Spectrum Australia (Aspect), one of the country's largest disability organisations, to scrutinise staff's use of restraints on clients.

When the scattered afternoon sunlight seeped its way into a restaurant in the heart of Mackay, Nekea Blagoev's creativity, widely splashed across the walls, came to light. 

According to Nekea, the first milestone in her life did not involve walking or talking.

Instead, her earliest memories involve painting and drawing.

"Mum was always constantly painting the walls because I was always drawing on them," Nekea said.

"It was more of a hobby when I was a kid, and it just developed into something bigger than I could have ever dreamed of," she said.