Kevin Rudd taps into concerns on autism

By bobb |

A SMALL centre for autistic children on Brisbane's northside may have won a visit from Kevin Rudd in a charity auction, but the Prime Minister showed yesterday that he is highly sensitive to autism in the broader community.

Mr Rudd yesterday morning met staff and students during a visit to the AEIOU Centre for Children with Autism at Bray Park, which won the prime ministerial visit as a prize at a charity auction.

Studies show increase in Autism cases

By bobb |

Australian officials currently estimate that about one in 160 children are diagnosed with autism, but findings from two new studies suggest it is much more common.

It is not clear whether autism itself is on the rise, or whether better diagnosis is inflating the figures.

...

Researchers from Melbourne's La Trobe University studied 20,000 children as they grew from infants to toddlers.

They trained baby health nurses to pick up early signs of autism.

Dr Cheryl Dissanayake is one of the lead researchers.

response: letter to A4 Convenor - 24/5/2009

By convenor |

Following is the response provided to Ms Evans' letter (see http://a4.org.au/a4/node/125) ...

 

 

Dear Ms Evans

Thank you for your input (24/5). I am sorry that I have taken so long to reply in detail.

If you choose to describe the A4 Steering Committee breakdown as a “lock out”, that is your choice. I disagree with your description.

A4 Steering Committee break down

By convenor |

Dear A4 member

Recently, the A4 Steering Committee separated due to personality differences, significantly different views and some name calling. Basically, the committee was not working.

In any case, A4 needs leadership renewal and A4 needs more push from members. It needs more members participating in the activities of the organisation, adding their energy to its advocacy. Also, A4 needs members saying what they want and how to achieve A4’s vision and mission (see http://a4.org.au/a4/visionmission).

Steering Committee separation ...

By convenor |

Dear A4 member

Differences have arisen within the A4 Steering Committee (A4 SC) that cannot be resolved.

As a result of discussions and with regret, a majority of the A4 SC decided the divisions in the A4 SC were detrimental to the organisation and cannot be overcome. A majority of the A4 SC have agreed that separation is the best way for everyone involved to move on.

Support in short supply for disabled

By bobb |

Bruce Bonyhady | May 07, 2009

The Australian (see http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,,25439463-32542,00.html)

AUSTRALIA'S disability support system is inequitable, fractured, under-resourced and slowly collapsing under the weight of its own inadequacies, while sub-optimally consuming billions of dollars of taxpayers' money each year.

Autistic kids 'have enlarged amygdala'

By bobb |

May 7, 2009 - 10:44AM

 

Young children with autism appear more likely to have enlarged amygdala - the part of the brain associated with registering faces and with expressing key emotions, according to a study released on Monday.

Described in the May issue of Archives of General Psychiatry, the study compared the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) results of 50 autistic children and 33 control children.

The children's brain scans were taken at age two and again at age four.

Right to an Ordinary Life - National Press Club

By bobb |

Hon Bill Shorten MP

Member for Maribyrnong
Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Children's Services

Bill Shorten spoke on the 01/04/2009 at the National Press Club. The publicity (see http://www.npc.org.au/speakerArchive/bshort.html) said:

The Rudd Government has put the social inclusion of disadvantaged groups – including people with disability – at the core of its vision for Australia.

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