Study by Flinders University detects signs of autism in first weeks

By bobb |

Verity Edwards, September 14, 2009, from: The Australian

A WORLD-FIRST study on siblings of children with autism is showing that signs associated with the behavioural disorder appear in babies in their first weeks of life.

The Flinders University research is the first of its kind to study the behaviour of infants who have an increased risk of developing autism from as young as 10 days, and to revisit the children every second month until they are 18 months old.

Tipsters trounce computer model

By bobb |

THE Computer - aka Taylor Fry Consulting Actuaries - was disappointed in the performance of its AFL model this year. It now has experience over the 2008 and 2009 seasons. Last year, the model scored 128 points over rounds 1 to 22 compared with 117 this year. However, it is good news that the decline in its own performance is a win for charity. At the start of the season, Taylor Fry promised to donate to charity $500 for each tip it was behind the leader after 22 rounds.

Lack of funding for Autism forces family overseas

By bobb |

7:30 Report - Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Broadcast: 19/08/2009, Reporter: Sharon O'Neill

It is estimated that half a million Australian families are affected by autism and many of them struggle not just with the needs of an autistic child or adult but with the huge costs associated with the array of therapies required to treat the disorder. For one family, Australia did not have the resources they needed for their autistic son, forcing them to relocate to the United Kingdom.

Schools telling disabled children to stay at home

By bobb |

Justine Ferrari, Education writer | August 26, 2009

Article from:  The Australian

SCHOOLS are turning children with disabilities into part-time students by restricting their attendance hours in breach of anti-discrimination laws.

Some school principals are limiting the time disabled students are in class to match the hours a teacher's aide or other assistance is available, Macquarie and Sydney university researchers have found.

A first for autism child-care

By bobb |

La Trobe University has been chosen by the Federal Government as Victorian service provider under its new national Autism Specific Early Learning and Care Centres program.

In partnership with the Royal Children’s Hospital, the University will receive $4 million over four years to develop such a centre, co-located with its Community Children’s Centre on the main Melbourne campus at Bundoora.

Family forced to head to UK for autistic son's sake

By bobb |

see http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/08/20/2661233.htm?site=local

 

A New South Wales family have made the gut-wrenching decision to leave the home and friends they love and move to the UK because they say Australia cannot provide the support and services they need for their autistic son.

It is estimated that 500,000 Australian families are affected by autism.

National autism register to be established

By bobb |

Australian Associated Press

"We need to know the extent of autism in Australia so we can properly support people with ASD." Bill Shorten

A national register will be created to track the rising incidence of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) in Australia, the federal government has announced.

Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Children's Services Bill Shorten told a regional autism conference in Sydney that a register would help improve government support services.

Australia signs UN disability protocol

By bobb |

People with disabilities now have another avenue to complain about being discriminated against under an agreement ratified by 40 nations.

Australia has signed up to the UN's Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Optional Protocol.

The protocol, agreed to by 40 nation's, allows complaints to be lodged to the UN if all domestic remedies have been exhausted.

Disability Discrimination Commissioner Graeme Innes said it was crucial to get a new national disability strategy up and running.

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