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At the Crossroads of Trauma and Autism

By bobb |

Reviewed by Michelle Quirk

Why we need to start talking about the risk of trauma for those with autism.

Key points

  • Up to 72 percent of adults with autism may have severe trauma histories.
  • It is hard to find research on the lives of adults with autism before 2000 and virtually impossible to find research on adult women with autism.
  • High trauma rates for people with autism needs to be a central part of autism awareness and treatment.

It is a sad truth that the majority of the early research into autism spectrum disorder (ASD) was done with young children, most of whom were boys. It is hard to find research into the lives of adults with autism before 2000 and virtually impossible to find research on adult women with autism. As an autistic woman, it is frustrating for me to know that the quality of life of adults with autism was ignored for decades. This has led to several massive problems that are only now coming to light. One of these problems is the extraordinarily high number of women with autism that have been through serious trauma and meet diagnostic criteria for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

First-of-its-kind guideline to improve supports for autistic children and families

By bobb |

Anna Christian

Autism CRC, an independent national research organisation focusing on best practice in relation to autism, has released a draft version of the first ever Australian national guideline to supporting autistic children and their families.

Once finalised, the National Guideline for supporting the learning, participation, and wellbeing of autistic children and their families in Australia will be used to ensure children can access the safe and effective supports that they want.

National Guideline for supporting autistic children and their families

By convenor |

Draft release for public consultation

Community consultation closes at 5pm (AEST) on August 29. All members of the community are welcome to provide feedback.

A draft version of the National Guideline for supporting the learning, participation, and wellbeing of autistic children and their families in Australia is now available for community feedback.

Autistic mums face stigma, misunderstanding

By bobb |

Savannah Pocock

Imagine that you are a teenager lying on a hospital bed receiving an ultra-sound because your doctor thought that may you have some ovarian cysts.

Suddenly, the nurse’s eyebrows furrow as she hurriedly turns the screen away from view.

Naturally, you freak out. ‘What is it?’ you ask the nurse.

She tells you everything is okay, turns off the screen and leaves the room.

After what feels like a decade, the nurse re-enters the room and tells you that you need to meet with your doctor,

Perth psychologist Agni Angelkovska suspended after professional misconduct finding

By bobb |

Ryan Young

A psychologist who threw water at a 12-year-old boy with autism and said older students would pummel him has learnt her fate.

A Perth psychologist who was allowed to continue working despite receiving a conviction for assaulting a child with autism in 2014 has finally been suspended from practising.

Agni Angelkovska was the director of psychological and counselling services at the prestigious Christ Church Grammar School when a magistrate found she “lost the plot”.

Australian Autism Alliance - scorecard for the 2022 Federal Election

By convenor |

Federal Election 2022 – Scorecard Major Parties new commitments to Shifting the Dial on Autism

The Australian Autism Alliance (Alliance) welcomes the commitment from the Coalition, Labor and the Greens to introduce a new National Autism Strategy in the next term of Parliament. The Alliance believe this will be critical in shaping the future policy agenda and help improve the life outcomes of hundreds of thousands of Autistic Australians.